Family pleas for help after little boy gets cancer diagnosis

A fundraiser has been set up to help a little boy after has was diagnosed with cancer. 

Logan Gray was diagnosed with a brain tumour in June 2020. After getting surgery and radiation, he was in remission but things changed in November 2022 when a routine MRI “detected changes”.

To help with the cost of treatment, his family have asked for help.

“After surgery and proton beam radiation he was in remission but things changed again in November 2022 when a routine MRI detected changes. Since then Logan has undergone 2 more surgeries and craniospinal radiation. Some side effects of these treatments (nausea, lack of appetite and fatigue) still affect him day to day,” she explained.

In December 2023, Logan’s oncologist confirmed that he relapsed again.

“Unfortunately surgery and radiation are not an option. It was explained to us that chemotherapy would not cure Logan but could possibly give him more time. He underwent the chemo for a number of months but it didn’t work very well as Logan was not too well with it and the tumour continued to grow slowly. This had not been an easy time for him and after three months, we made the decision to stop it.

“In the meantime Logan’s file was reviewed by an oncology hospital near Paris (ranked 3rd worldwide) and following this assessment their team recommended a treatment for him called onc201. We were very lucky to have the help of the Gavin Glynn Foundation to organise the visit to France. The treatment is currently not available in Ireland nor funded by the HSE and could be a number of years before they can consider its approval. However this same treatment has already met the approval threshold in France – however we are not eligible to qualify for funding from the French government. The treatment costs over €2000 each month and will be more expensive as Logan grows. Oscar kids Ireland has kindly paid for 4 months of treatment so we would have time to prepare for future payments.”

According to his family, since Logan came off chemo, he has been in “better form.”

“Two weeks ago he even asked to go back on his bike which he had not done much since he first relapsed. It is lovely to see him wanting to do these things again, just like other little boys his age and even if it is at his own pace.

“Due to his ongoing treatment, he misses a lot of school but when possible he loves to be there with his friends. The school staff are amazing and so kind and take such good care of him. His classmates and school community are so lovely and love having him around because of his personality and despite his medical condition.

“His appetite is still up and down but thanks to the feeding tube he has, we feed him overnight and can give extra water to keep him hydrated. He has been on the new treatment for just over a month and is tolerating it well so far (may it last).”

Despite everything he has been through, Logan has not lost his “cheekiness”.

“He has faced so much and never lost his sense of humour. He is very brave and strong. He still loves astronauts (his favourite is Chris Hadfield), planets, solar system….anything to do with space. He is our shining star and we are so proud of him. He amazes us every day.”