Gryffin Sellers is recognized as a laughter enthusiast.
At the very least, that's what his parents, Ashley and Kenny Sellers, refer to him as.
Subscribe to Our NewslettersBut since being diagnosed with Stage 4 Pineoblastoma, a rare type of brain cancer, in April, they say it has been difficult to maintain a smile on his face.
High-dose chemotherapy is tough. It's really hard on the body," Ashley explained. "The children experience chemical burns both inside and outside their bodies. He has burns in his throat, which makes it hard for him to eat, and he's lost a lot of weight from constantly vomiting.
Usually, she mentions they would take him trick-or-treating to lift his mood on his favorite day. However, due to his illness and the significant impact of his treatment on the 3-year-old's body, his parents issued a request on social media, asking their Bondurant neighbors to gather and hand out candy several weeks before the actual holiday.
Dozens of families delivered.
It's wonderful to be part of the community and look out for one another," Jeffery Conroy, the Sellers' neighbor, stated. "They are always there for us.
Even neighbors several streets away, such as Beth Rodas, participated.
"No one among us knows when our final day will come, but you simply want to make each day for him a little more meaningful," she said.
Gryffin's parents mention that he accumulated a large amount of candy, so they intend to share some with his nurses.
But the most remarkable thing is effortlessly witnessing his glow return.
"I think his spirit is somewhat back because now he's thinking, I have all this candy to eat, so I need to go get treatment and come home so I can enjoy my candy," Ashley said.
Gryffin still needs to go through a few more sessions of intensive chemotherapy, but after that, Ashley mentions there aren't many more options available to the doctors.
Pineoblastoma is extremely uncommon, accounting for less than 0.2% of brain tumors identified in the country,according to the Cleveland Clinic. Due to its rarity, there is limited research focused on it, causing families like Gryffin's to look for older treatment options.
His treatment plan dates back to 2003 for a cancer that isn't even his," Ashley stated. "That's more than 20 years old with no recent studies, no updates, and nothing new.
Even more challenging, the Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium, which oversees many of the early clinical trials used to treat rare tumors such as Gryffin's, islosing funding next year.
That's why Ashley and Kenny want to increase understanding of the disease in the first place: so that future families won't have to depend on flawed therapies.
For further details about Gryffin's story and to contribute to assist the family,click here.
» Follow KCCI's YouTube channel
» Get the free KCCI app to stay updated on the move:Apple | Google Play
TOP STORIES FROM KCCI:
A man from Des Moines is facing charges of sexual exploitation, having been accused of installing a camera in a portable restroom.
Man dies in overnight motorcycle accident on Interstate 80
Iowa's men's basketball team starts Ben McCollum's inaugural season with a 'chip on their shoulder'
A 7-year-old boy from Greenfield will be the next Iowa football Kid Captain.
Traffic in Des Moines: Significant congestion affecting drivers in West Des Moines
READ THE FULL STORY:Central Iowa residents come together to celebrate Halloween early for a young boy fighting a rare form of cancer.
CHECK OUT KCCI:Obtain the most recent news and weather updates from Des Moines. The KCCI news team provides you with the highest quality local reporting and the latest stories from throughout the state.