Hope4Caleb
Raised:
USD $84,834
Campaign funds will be received by James Decker
Hope4Caleb
Giving #Hope4Caleb
We are pulling out all stops to help get our courageous grandson, Caleb Decker, to Hope4Cancer Treatment Centers in Cancun by the end of May 2024.
Sixteen is an age most of us remember as the time when we were dating, learning to drive, maybe getting in a little trouble, and getting our first jobs. For Caleb, it marks nearly 4 years since he started his fight with cancer. In those last 4 years, rather than experiencing all of the milestones that come with adolescence, he’s had to endure four major surgeries for tumor removals, two major courses of chemotherapy, two massive rounds of radiation, and targeted therapy that has kept him nearly tied to one of his parents because of the possible side effects.
Caleb has been such a trooper through all of this, but every new issue erodes his confidence in being able to see this in the rearview mirror at some point. No 16-year-old should have to experience this and question if they can continue fighting this.
Caleb had an exceptionally rare brain tumor that can only be diagnosed with a description of what it looks like under a microscope (the short version is an RMS-like DICER1 type spindle cell sarcoma). Aside from surgery, this has meant that all possible treatments are best-guess, with no data to support that it would work for his situation.
While Caleb’s medical team has been great to work with, after the tumor pushed through the targeted therapy in early 2024, they informed his parents they don’t expect any treatment to truly cure Caleb. Rather, what they can offer is more of an effort to extend the time between recurrences.
During this process, the family also learned that Caleb is part of the 5% of people who carry a genetic predisposition to cancer. For Caleb, this is called DICER1 Syndrome.
This is why Caleb and his family must learn how to support his body long-term. They are working diligently to get him to the Hope4Cancer treatment center in Cancun by the end of May 2024. The focus at this clinic is across the whole body, dealing with both the current situation and supporting the body to reduce the risk of recurrent issues. The family personally knows several people who have seen good results from the treatment with this clinic and is hopeful for the answers it has for Caleb.
The Treatment Caleb’s Seeking
As anyone who’s had to fight cancer understands, it is expensive on top of pulling time away from a career and work. Caleb and his family need the help of our whole community. To get the full treatment he needs, they need about $86,000. This breaks down like this:
Phase 1 - Initial Trip:
• $51,000 - 3-week in-patient treatment (13 different treatment modalities, education, meals, housing plus supplies for the first 3 months of continued at-home treatment and 2 return follow-up visits)
• $2,000 - Travel for Caleb and his dad to the clinic
• $2,000 - Fees for GiveSendGo Processing.
Phase 2 - Medical Equipment & Follow-Up Visits
• $23,000 - Medical Equipment (Hyperbaric oxygen, PEMF machine, rhythm vibration platform, sauna dome for hyperthermic treatment, infrared mat, masticating juicer).
• $8,000 - Return trip transportation & lodging (2 additional trips over the next 12 months for follow-up).
Let’s continue to surround this family with Hope and give this 16-year-old hope that this is just a stage, and he can still enjoy the remainder of his teenage years!
Will you help give Caleb hope with a donation or share this campaign? Every effort helps: prayer, dona-tions, and sharing. Let’s change the world of childhood cancer for him and stand behind him to keep fighting!
Thank you!
Regardless of how you've landed here, we are so thankful for you and for being on this journey with Caleb and our family. Thank you in advance for supporting this effort. My aim (Caleb's grandpa) is that others find hope for their own journey by watching what God is doing through this journey with Caleb. We hope you'll continue to be part of that with us! You can follow along with the regular updates that Caleb’s parents put out on his CaringBridge page, which are more detailed than what we provide here: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/calebdecker
Please note: any donation that is made in CaringBridge goes to support CaringBridge, not this fund raiser.
Recent Donations
Keeping your family in our thoughts and prayers.
My grandmother was diagnosed with a brain tumor during Covid. I wish you the best and many blessings my friend.
Good luck to Caleb abd his family! I too am fighting cancer (breast cancer) and we all need support! You're a warrior, you've got this!
Blessings, Rita
We love you Caleb!
As a cancer patient myself I wish him the best.
Updates
Final Update
November 28th, 2024
From Caleb's Parents:
It's hard to believe that it's been a month since Caleb went home to worship Christ in person. The hurt is deep, but the grace of God is bigger!
On this Thanksgiving Day, we wanted to thank you for all of the support you've provided! Without the financial support you provided, whether big or small, Caleb wouldn't have been as healthy as he was. One of the things we heard constantly was how healthy he was, despite what was going on with treatments or the tumor.
Thank you for your generosity and for trying to give Caleb the best hope for recovery. More than that, thank you for the prayers you've surrounded our family with this last year.
We pray that no matter whether you're at a mountain high or a valley low right now, that you find a few minutes to express gratitude to our Heavenly Father. "give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
I (Josh) will continue sharing about our journey moving forward on my blog. If you'd like to follow, I'll be posting at https://courageousfamily.com/blog.
We hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas!
Josh & Kim Decker
Update #6
October 30th, 2024
In the early morning hours of October 30, 2024, Caleb went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
While the last 4 years have been an incredible battle, Caleb was able to live his life doing what he loved: loving on his brothers, learning life skills and how to serve others by his parents, serving in his church, and exploring his passion for drumming.
Through the generous donations that have come in, he was able to travel for 3 weeks to Hope 4 Cancer in Cancun, Mexico, where he received alternative treatments and coaching. Also, through the same donations, his parents were able to purchase expensive medical equipment that aided in Caleb's treatment.
As difficult as it is to say good-bye, we rejoice in the knowledge that Caleb is at peace and fully healed in the arms of Christ.
The generosity has been overwhelming, and the support from Give Send Go has been superlative.
We are so thankful and grateful for all that has been done. As you can imagine, Caleb's parents are now faced with expenses that they are not prepared for. Please pray, and if you find it in your heart to help with these new expenses, please contribute through this page, or through Venmo @Hope4Caleb.
Even in this difficult time, we are truly blessed.
Grandpa D
Update #5
June 5th, 2024
Caleb is doing well, and we are so thankful and grateful for everyone that has helped make this treatment a possibility for him. The coordination between the two different medical teams has been miraculous, far better than what we expected from some of the stories we've heard from others on this journey!
He has responded well to all the treatments so far, and the family is starting to see some improvement in some of his test results. There's a lot that still needs to happen when he gets home and moving forward, but we are now on the journey with guides who understand the path and the process.
There have been some changes to the treatment protocols once the initial evaluations happened. This accounted for about $7,500 more than the family initially anticipated. Thanks to the generosity of everyone who has contributed so far, the family has not had to turn down any treatment that Caleb's new team thinks is appropriate to pursue right now.
They were also expecting to come home and need about $20,000 in equipment. But God has provided so perfectly that the team has only recommended two pieces of equipment totaling only about $4,000. One of those he's already received and accounts for about $2,000 of the $7,500 mentioned above. So, while it looks differently than we had thought, the budget Caleb's family had anticipated is, so far, right on track.
The family is continuing to work through additional fundraising efforts. What they are anticipating right now are the expenses for the follow-up visits (at least two of those this year, depending on how the first one goes, the results of scans, etc.) They are also anticipating if the team wants to continue some of the treatments beyond the initial three months. They are working on getting estimates of what that looks like.
They are also diligently working on increasing their household income to be able to continue providing whatever treatments Caleb may need. Please pray for this effort that they will hear God clearly on the direction He would have them take, and that by pursuing Him first, He will bless their efforts.
Thank you all for your generosity and prayers.
Jim
Caleb is on his way! THANK YOU!!! Phase 2 starting...
May 18th, 2024
We are so incredibly thankful for everyone who has come around Caleb and the family in prayers and donations over the last couple of weeks. To see the speed at which this has become a reality is nothing short of miraculous, and we so appreciate everyone who has been a part of that miracle.
We are updating the goal of this fundraiser to ensure that treatment doesn't stop after Caleb returns. Part of the initial cost was a 3-month supply of vitamins and immunotherapy treatments.
What many don't realize is that Caleb has a genetic predisposition for developing certain types of cancers, including what he's had in his brain. That means that many of the treatments he's received while at the clinic are important to continue both in the near term and potentially for the rest of his life.
Additionally, Caleb will have two additional trips back to the clinic over the next year for follow-up with the doctors there.
We have updated the goal of this campaign to ensure that Caleb's mom and dad can get the equipment needed to give Caleb the most extensive therapy while at home and to help cover the costs of the return trips.
Caleb's family does have several fundraisers being planned locally, including some restaurants in the area partnering with them to continue the fundraising. Updates will be posted when those details are available. A family friend has developed a shirt to help support Caleb, both visually and as part of the fundraising. If interested, you can check those out at: https://www.itsnotaboutuscompany.com/hope-4-caleb
Thank you for being part of this miracle in Caleb's life!
Update #3
May 16th, 2024
We are SO blessed by the outpouring of donations and are thankful and grateful for all of the support that has been shown. We are currently at 68% of our goal. Please share with friends/family/coworkers so we can get to 100%. Thank you and God bless you. Jim. #hope4caleb
Update #2 - Moving Things Forward
May 7th, 2024
Josh, Kim and Caleb had a call with their admissions coordinator at H4C yesterday to discuss moving things forward. At this point, they are in a holding pattern until the clinic received the release to treat from his team. However, the H4C team is trying to determine what they need for that letter. Being they don't normally treat minors, this is something they're having to figure out as they go (which the family is kind of used to hearing from those who've worked with Caleb because he's just a little unique on his own).
They are hoping to have what's needed in the next couple of days so that they can get it to Caleb's oncology team to write and send back to H4C. Once that release is in place, they will be able to book flights finish the planning to get Caleb's treatment started.
The family is asking for prayer surrounding this step specifically. The team has been receptive in conversations up to this point, but you just never know until the documents are in place.
Update #1
May 4th, 2024
We are so humbled and thankful for the outpouring of support for our grandson. As of this update, you have helped us raise nearly 30% of the funds needed to get the treatment he needs.
Six weeks ago he was having the surgery to remove the third tumor in the last 3.5 years. We are seeing Caleb smile and get excited as we share the progress of raising the funds to send him to this clinic for treatment and to learn how to support his body over the course of his life.
He had gotten sick shortly after surgery, and is finally starting to feel better. That's evidenced by his sitting down at his drums and playing. He continues to amaze us as we watch his progress and resilience!
He had a post-op MRI this week, which came back "as expected"...that's medical speak for not seeing any new tumor development.
His parents post regular detailed updates on his Caring Bridge page, which you can follow at: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/calebdecker/
Local family and friends are continuing to put up flyers around the area. We would be humbled and grateful if you'd be willing to continue sharing his story. We are using the hashtag #Hope4Caleb when posting for him.
Thank you so much for your support and joining the family on this leg of the journey. His dad has promised to share new updates and things they learn once they get down to Cancun for treatment.
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