Meet ASK Kid Spencer
For most 10-year-old boys, life is all about playing sports, riding bikes around the neighborhood, and keeping up with younger siblings. Spencer is a spirited, energetic 10-year-old who takes his role as the oldest brother to Liam (9) and Cevin (5) very seriously—which includes bossing them around every chance he gets! He loves playing video games, watching mukbang videos, eating pizza, and cheering on his favorite basketball player, Tyrese Haliburton.
Spencer with his family Spencer and his younger brothers
Whether he was playing flag football, soccer, or riding his dirt bike—a hobby he’s loved since he was four-years-old—Spencer has always been a force of nature. But during spring break in April 2025, his world came to a sudden halt.
It started with what seemed like a routine childhood illness. Spencer became unusually quiet and slept a lot, complaining of headaches and fevers.
“Spencer has always been very active and rambunctious,” shares his mom, Sher. “Every time he got sick, he would become, ‘chill Spencer.’ So, when he was sleeping a lot and had a fever, I thought it was just seasonal allergies or something viral.”
When school was about to resume, however, Sher noticed Spencer holding onto walls just to walk across the room. Trusting her motherly instincts, she took him to St. Mary’s Emergency Room. A CT scan revealed shocking news: a mass the size of a lemon was located at the back of Spencer’s head near his cerebellum.
“I didn’t have an immediate reaction because he was right there,” Sher recalls. “He looked at me and asked, ‘Am I going to die?’ When he said that, I had to step out to call my husband, Patrik. We adopted the term ‘lemon in your head’ because we didn't want to scare him right away.”
In April 2025, Spencer underwent an intense six to seven-hour brain surgery to remove the tumor. Surgeon Dr. Lane was able to successfully remove the entire tumor, but she prepared Sher and Patrik for a challenging recovery. The tumor’s removal temporarily affected the right side of Spencer’s body, his mobility, and his right eye.
It was during these crucial early days at CHoR that the family first met oncologist Dr. Park.
“Dr. Park introduced himself, I believe, on the second day we were at CHoR in April 2025. I remember feeling skeptical because no one had mentioned that Spencer had cancer at that point. Although Dr. Park spoke to us casually about the biopsy, his body language quietly prepared me for the news that, deep down, I already knew was true.
Dr. Park had a way of making an unimaginable situation feel as normal as it possibly could. As strange as that sounds, it became our new normal, and we accepted it. I deeply admire his dedication, not only to caring for children with this disease but also to advancing research. If Spencer were giving Dr. Park a rating, he would say eight out of ten—only because Dr. Park doesn't wear cool shoes!”
The biopsy confirmed their fears: the tumor was Medulloblastoma, a malignant form of brain cancer. Despite the daunting diagnosis, Spencer demonstrated incredible resilience and strength. By Easter Sunday, physical and occupational therapists had Spencer up on his feet and taking his first steps again.
Following radiation came grueling months of chemotherapy. Side effects brought more than 20 hospital and ER visits for neutropenic fevers. Through every setback, hospital stay, and therapy session, Spencer and his family kept pushing forward. On March 23, 2026, Spencer reached a milestone every pediatric cancer family dreams of: he completed his treatment and rang the bell! Shortly after, he had his port removed, officially closing a long chapter and entering survivorship.
Now, Spencer is focused on rebuilding his strength.
“I love eating pizza. I like swimming in the pool. I like vehicles, like a Porsche,” Spencer says, looking ahead to the future. Reflecting on his current recovery, he adds candidly: “I'm a little bit wobbly, and I want to walk right.”
Sher knows this stage comes with its own unique milestones: “The scary chapter is closed, but now comes the journey to get him back to the Spencer he was—riding his dirt bike, playing basketball, and being that outdoor kid again.”
Throughout Spencer’s journey, ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation was there to provide critical educational, financial, and emotional support to ease the burden on his family. Spencer’s brothers got to join in the fun at the ASK Holiday Party 2025, giving them a sense of normalcy and joy. Looking ahead, Spencer was excited to attend ASK Summer Camp in August 2026!
Reflecting on their journey, Sher offers advice to other parents facing a pediatric cancer diagnosis:
“I know everyone handles things differently. For me, I'm the type of person who rarely asks for help, and even when people offer, I decline about 95% of the time. But this illness can consume an entire family. My advice is to accept the help and ask for it when you feel overwhelmed. The financial assistance we received from ASK was invaluable. Having to travel to Washington, D.C., for six weeks would have been incredibly difficult without that support. Finally, don't forget to take care of yourself. As parents, we often put ourselves last, but it's important to do something that brings you joy. You can't pour into your child's bucket if your own bucket is empty".
Today, Spencer is excited about going back to school in person to see his friends, getting back on the basketball court, and riding his bike around the neighborhood. Thanks to the generosity of the ASK community, kids like Spencer don't have to walk the journey through childhood cancer alone.
