2024 Race 4 Research Honoree: Leyton Rogers

On December 1, 2022, our lives forever changed. Leyton was 11 years old at the time he was diagnosed with a non-germinomatous germ cell tumor near the pineal gland in his brain. Within days he had brain surgery, a port placed and started chemotherapy. He continued chemotherapy for months, but unfortunately, the mass in his brain grew from the size of a grape to about the size of a golf ball. It was determined that he would have another brain surgery to remove what they could of the tumor and cyst-like material.

The neurosurgeon at Children’s Hospital Colorado performed the risky surgery and was fairly confident that he removed 100% of the tumor. Leyton recovered from surgery and completed his last two rounds of chemotherapy. Part of Leyton’s treatment plan included radiation therapy. After many discussions with his neuro-oncology team and oncology radiologist, we all agreed that proton radiation therapy would be the best for Leyton. We were shocked to learn that this treatment is not available anywhere in the state of Colorado, so we traveled to Arizona to receive this treatment and were away from home for 7 weeks. Leyton completed treatment on July 7, 2023. 

He is the biggest Denver Nuggets fan and loves the Denver Broncos. Leyton loves to hang out with his two big brothers, Garrett and Brody.

He prays that in his lifetime a cure will be found for cancer.

Leyton has always had a positive attitude
and that didn’t change with his diagnosis.

His faith has grown stronger, and he knows that God has a plan for him.

The neuro-oncology department at Children’s Hospital became a lifeline for our family. From the front desk receptionist, research assistants, psychology department, occupational and physical therapists, nurses, and of course to the amazing doctors, we are forever grateful that we are given another day to tuck Leyton into bed each night. It is not lost on us that many parents leave the hospital without their child due to a cancer diagnosis.

This race (Race 4 Research) lands on a special day, as it will be the “1-year anniversary” of Leyton ringing the bell! He continues appointments every 3 months and is currently considered no sign of disease. He has a full head of curly hair, courtesy of chemo.

We are all excited to help raise money and awareness for cancer.