On August 18, 2025, Owen’s world was turned upside down when he began experiencing severe headaches, vomiting, and loss of balance during his second week of 7th grade. A CT scan revealed a mass in the center of his brain that was blocking the normal flow of cerebrospinal fluid, leading to emergency surgery the following day. Owen was later diagnosed with Pineoblastoma, a rare and aggressive grade 4 brain tumor. After a second surgery successfully removed the tumor, he began treatment in October 2025 and later started maintenance chemotherapy. Along the way, Owen also developed double vision from his first surgery and continues working hard to heal from it. Through every challenge, he has remained strong, positive, and determined while continuing to enjoy fishing, baseball, video games, and simply being a kid.

Angels Among Us has meant so much to our family throughout this journey. Going through treatments, appointments, and all the unknowns that come with childhood cancer can feel overwhelming, and their support has helped lighten that weight in so many ways. They have reminded us that we are not going through this alone. The kindness, encouragement, and generosity shown to Owen and our family have brought comfort during some really difficult moments. Most importantly, they have helped create moments where Owen can just focus on being a kid again. We are incredibly thankful for everything AAU has done for our family.