The Defeat DIPG Connection & Family Partnership

Shortly after Hudson was diagnosed with DIPG in October of 2019, I discovered a foundation that would become near and dear to our hearts: Michael Mosier Defeat DIPG.  The connections were immediate.  We quickly learned that despite the Mosiers being based in Maryland, we have mutual friends and they even have relatives in the neighborhood adjacent to ours.  I was introduced to Jenny Mosier, who became a friend and confidant throughout Hudson’s battle and still is today.  

The Mosiers The Sands

You see, Jenny’s boy Michael fought DIPG as well, and passed away at the age of six in 2015.  She knew all too well what we were up against.  Despite the extreme adversity of losing her precious child, she had turned her pain into purpose – and wow, had she done incredible things for families like ours and theirs!  When we met, she’d been nearly single-handedly running Michael Mosier Defeat DIPG for almost five years. Her foundation had raised millions for DIPG research, while simultaneously helping families all over the world navigate the brutal disease.  

In February of 2020 I had the pleasure of meeting Jenny and her husband Mark when I traveled to Washington, DC for a DIPG summit.  I learned even more about Michael, Defeat DIPG and the efforts of the foundation and a select few doctors working tirelessly towards a cure.  It was an incredible, touching and emotional experience to meet other families impacted by DIPG and hear the stories of their angel warriors.   

DIPG Summit in Washington, DC - February 2020

Six months later, Hudson officially transferred to Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan to be under the care of Dr. Carl Koschmann – a DIPG researcher and incredible pediatric neuro oncologist.  I’d also met Dr. Koschmann at the DIPG summit, and consulted with him since that time. We were quickly introduced to the Carr family, who live in the area and also lost their boy Chad at the age of five to DIPG in 2015. They launched the ChadTough foundation that same year, and had raised millions for research while helping families like ours.  Tammi Carr also became a friend and source of support while we were in Michigan and beyond.  

In January of this year, Michael Mosier Defeat DIPG and The ChadTough Foundation merged, to become ChadTough Defeat DIPG – an incredible force continuing to honor their children and ours, while fighting for those to come.  

To date, #TeamHudson has raised almost $75K for Defeat DIPG thanks to family, friends and even strangers who grew to love Hudson and fight along with us.  We are excited to become an official ChadTough Defeat DIPG family partner, with the goal of continuing to honor Hudson while helping fund even more research towards a cure.  We are joining 20 other families who have all been impacted by pediatric brain cancer and are committed to the mission of the foundation.  Together, we will fund a cure for DIPG and other pediatric brain cancers sooner than would otherwise be possible!