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May 17th Is DIPG Awareness Day

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Governor Jay Inslee officially declared May 17th DIPG Awareness Day.  For the Avery Huffman Defeat DIPG Foundation, this is one more step in their mission to end the monster that is DIPG.

What is DIPG?

According to the Defeat DIPG Foundation website, “Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is a brain tumor found in a part of the brain stem called the pons. The pons controls essential bodily functions such as heartbeat, breathing, swallowing, eye movement, eyesight, and balance.”

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DIPG affects children almost exclusively,” the website continues.  “Approximately 200-400 children in the United States are diagnosed with DIPG each year. These children are typically between the ages of 4 and 11. DIPG accounts for roughly 10-15% of all brain tumors in children.”

The Local Fight to Defeat DIPG

We spoke to Brandon Huffman to get more insight into why having May 17th declared DIPG Awareness day is important, as well as check in on other recent and upcoming events.

DIPG Awareness Day

Auburn Examiner: How many years now has the 17th been declared DIPG awareness day?

Brandon Huffman: The first DIPG Awareness Day in Washington was on May 17th, 2017.  We established the Avery Huffman Defeat DIPG Foundation in May of 2016 and worked over the next year to get Governor Jay Inslee to proclaim May 17th (for 2017), as DIPG Awareness Day in the state of Washington.  He has since proclaimed it each of the last two years since.

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AE: What can folks do to mark May 17th and help raise awareness?

BH: Share Avery’s story.  Share the story of other children fighting DIPG.  Or those who have bravely fought it.  Unfortunately, the Auburn/Lake Tapps community has had too many children diagnosed with DIPG in the last decade, abnormally large for any one region. Many families, in one extension of another, have been affected by it.

AE: What will the Huffman family, and the Foundation be doing on the 17th to mark the day?

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BH: What will you/the Foundation be doing on the 17th to mark the day?This year, we will be at Avery’s brother Cade’s baseball game- one of Avery’s favorite places to be was at the baseball field, watching her brother play, and spending time with her family.  Cade’s team, Untouchables 13U, has special “AveryStrong” jerseys, in gold (to recognize Childhood Cancer) with grey writing (to recognize Brain Tumor Awareness month) and #brAvery on the jersey’s as well as special hats with the letter A and a grey ribbon, that they will be wearing that evening in honor of Avery and DIPG Awareness Day.

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“Avery’s brother Cade and baseball team debuted their #AveryStrong jerseys and hats, “Gold and Gray Every Day” March 14th. They also plan to wear them this Friday, May 17th. | Courtesy Photo

AE: Does May 17th have a special meaning to the DIPG community?

BH: May 17th was chosen by the founders of the Michael Mosier Defeat DIPG Foundation, by Mark and Jenny Mosier, Michael’s parents, as that was the day, in 2015, that he passed away from DIPG.  Mark and Jenny not only head the MMDDF, but that is the parent foundation of the Avery Huffman Defeat DIPG Foundation.  They have also become dear friends of ours as we both fight back to honor our children who fought this horrible disease.

 

AE: What other states are marking the 17th as DIPG awareness day?

BH: To date, Washington is one of 11 states that has either received a Gubernatorial Proclamation or Permanent Establishment by Legislature.  The other states are Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Idaho, Illinois, Louisiana and Ohio.  In addition, there are 19 more states where it is pending either with their respective governor or legislature.  See more here at DIPG Across the Map (https://www.defeatdipg.org/dipgacrossthemap/)

Avery’s Playground

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Brandon and Amanda Huffman with the Avery’s Playground plaque | Courtesy Photo

AE: During this year’s Auburn Clean Sweep event, the play area in Lakeland Hills park was dedicated as Avery’s Playground.  What does it mean to you?

BH: It means so much.  To have a permanent marker to honor Avery and have her remembered, by families and children and for generations, it continues to move us and know that even in her short life here on earth, she continues to be remembered and loved.

AE: Why Lakeland Hills Park?

BH: Lakeland Hills Park was the park she played at the most.  It’s a short walk from our house.  There were activities and practices for her older brother and sister that she would tag along to and play in the park the entirety of practice, then find a way to play on it even more.  She could run around the park, she could play with our dog, she could have a great time. About a week before her diagnosis of brain cancer, we filmed a video of her climbing the monkey bars, where she climbed, dismounted and posed with a ”ta-da!”  Two weeks later, she was in a wheelchair, partially paralyzed from her tumor.