Welcome to The Brian Peyton Fund. The donations from here are going straight to helping pay for the daily bills and medical bills Brian is amassing as he undergoes radiation and chemotherapy (without insurance) for a pineoblastoma – a malignant and inoperable brain tumor. This kind of tumor is extremely rare in adults. Because the tumor is so rare, it is difficult for his doctors to assess the best course of treatment.
What is The Brian Peyton Fund?
Who is Brian Peyton and what happened to him?
Brian is 28 years old and a student at the University of North Texas, where he was doing post-baccalaureate work so he could apply to dental school in a few semesters. He loves spending his free time playing guitar and watching Rangers baseball. He has been a Texas Rangers fan for many, many years, standing by his team when they were in their darkest seasons. His girlfriend of over seven years describes him as the “best person ever.” Everyone who knows Brian knows him to be kind, patient, and easy-going… basically, everyone loves him.
In mid-April, Brian found out he had a brain tumor roughly the size of a racquetball. Located on top of his brain stem, it blocked the third ventricle and cerebral spinal fluid began build pressure. Within 24 hours of finding out, Brian was sedated so that a ventriculostemy tube could be inserted and release the pressure that was causing so many problems.
Two days later he was transported to the Zale Lipshy University Hospital, a part of UT Southwestern Medical Center, and “world’s premier neurological diagnostic treatment centers.” There they put a shunt in his brain, which is a permanent solution to drain the fluid. During these two weeks he remained in ICU, basically sedated and asleep.
When he was finally moved out of ICU he began improving and was progressing with his daily physical therapy. Then, he took a turn for the worst. His doctors ordered a CT scan and discovered that the tumor had grown almost 2 centimeters in less than a week. The tumor had grown so large that it was now blocking another ventricle. He had a sixth brain surgery to relieve the pressure and began receiving emergency high-dose radiation treatments.
During his 10 week hospital stay Brian had 6 weeks of intense radiation on his spine and brain. The doctors were hopeful that the radiation would improve his condition, but because of the rarity of the tumor they had little to draw from. Recently, the doctors reported that the tumor was basically dead and that the radiation was successful!
However, because brain tumors die from the inside out, the size of the tumor hasn’t decreased much. While Brian is getting stronger and is able to walk unassisted, he is still having cognitive issues such as short term memory loss. The doctors are confident that the mass will decrease, although surgery may be necessary.
2013 Update: Well, Brian has completed chemotherapy and is 29 now! However, a few weeks ago the tumor returned. He was in the hospital for just a few days this time- by far his shortest hospital stay yet. His strength is good enough for him to be home, which is wonderful. He’s currently visiting new doctors for some outside opinions and new options. There is more information in the newest post below.
Updates
Well, it’s been a little over a year since this nightmare began. Brian went through his full treatment and ended chemo around the first of the year. Everything was looking great and the doctors were beside themselves at his recovery. He even got his first first post chemo haircut from Heather! You really can’t keep [...]
Hello to all of you! Brian finished his first round of chemo yesterday and he is doing great. So far, the side effects of the treatment are not really bothering him. Let’s hope that keeps up! So we are one round down and two to go. The next one starts on Halloween, not sure about [...]
As I was updating the website for Nicole, I decided to hijack the blog area and let everyone know what’s been going on this summer with Brian and Nicole in greater detail than the main page really allows. Plus, this post is from an outsider’s point of view-I’m just a friend. I don’t live with [...]
Brian is doing great! Many, many things have happened since my last update. 1. Brian is finished with radiation. His last radiation treatment was on June 14, he got a certificate and everything! The paramedics that have been transporting him to and from his treatments, and all the nurses and techs at the radiation clinic [...]
BRIAN WALKED TODAY!!!!!!!! Sorry, I just had to yell that. He walked! The physical therapists took him to the 8th floor (rehab unit) for his therapy session today so they could use the parallel bars. He was able to talk about 60 feet without any assistance other than the bars. I could not be more [...]
Leave Brian some lovin'
I Love You Brian! Kick the shit out of that tumor! See you Saturday!
Brian, I don’t know you very well but you’ve got a damn good bunch of friends that love you very much and because of that, I will help support you as you fight the good fight.
I Love you Brian! We are going to kick some tumor butt!
I’m ready for the Deep Purple reunion…get well soon
Hey Brian! Thinking about you constantly and praying like crazy for you. Love you, Debbie and Danny
Brian, you will continue to be in my prayers- I know you will get through this!
Hang in there buddy! Love you and continuing to pray.
I will continue to pray for you Brian, and your family that loves you so much and anguishes in your struggles. I am blessed that you are in my life. Get better soon!!! love you. Aunt Michele
Brian, I just read about what was going on! I’m sorry that this had to happen to you at such a young age, but I know that you’re strong and you’ll continue to fight this! I will continue to pray for you and your family. Hang in there buddy!
Brian and Nicole, you all are in our thoughts and prayers daily. Love reading the progress through the website. Keep strong.
I am always thinking of you, Brian! And Nicole! I love you and can’t wait to start giving you some hot short cuts! You will be ok! Hang in there. We are all praying for you both.
Brian, I don’t know you at all, but I’m holding you in my heart during your fight.
I don’t know you, but I hope to shake your hand when you recover from this. Get well.
Hi Brian! I know you don’t know me but I am friends with Melissa Finstead Adams , I just want you to know that your are in my prayers and I will be giving your name to every prayer warrior and prayer group I know! Keep fighting, you have a lot of people on your team! Take care!
Hey man, hope you start feeling better soon. When you get out of the hospital you and Nicole should come out again. We can make dinner as long as Nicole brings dessert!
Love u Brian I’m praying for u cuz we all love u u can do this
brian, nicole i love you guys so much! stay strong and kick that tumors ass!
thinking of you! Sending lots of love and hope.
Hey, Just wanted to tell you that I’m thinking about you and your friends. Kali’s been keeping me up to date. So sorry for what’s going on. Stay strong and give it hell.
So glad to hear you’re getting out if ICU today! I know we don’t know eachother that well but you have been in my thoughts a lot since your diagnosis. Although I don’t petsonally know what you’re going through right now, I know you are in good hands! You CAN overcome this! Kick that tumor in its ass!!!!!
Peace. Love. Death Metal.
You don’t know me but I am wishing you the best, and rooting for a complete recovery.
Congrats on getting out of ICU today!! Soooo happy that you are doing a little beter. I always have you on my mind and can’t wait til I can see you again. EFF THAT TUMOR!!
Woo hoo! You are out of ICU! Mind over matter; keep visualizing those evil cells being destroyed by your treatment. Your lust for life has affected others for the good of the universe and is being passed on to people that don’t even know you (that would be me). So, thank you and don’t forget you matter to more people than you can imagine. Godspeed my friend, you’re going to kick some serious ass!!!
We are praying for you and your family. Be strong.
Hi Brian.
We don’t know each other but Heather Walker can’t say enough awesome things about you. I love her and she loves you, so I love you too. I think that’s the way that works.
I just wanted you to know that I’m right there with you in spirit. I’m going to be down your way next Tuesday bringing lots of love and well-wishes from Denton! Feel better!
Stay positive and do your thing (whatever you love to do!) Love can right so much. Positive vibrations on the horizon!
Greetings, Prayers and Good Thoughts from Denton! Heather and Tyler Walker are gathering the troops for good wishes, and you both are in lots of prayers! Hang in there and kick the tumor’s ass!
I heard about Brian on gomeangreen.com today. So sorry to hear that Brian is having to battle cancer, but it sounds to me like he’s winning the battle and has one hell of a team on his side. My family and I will keep Brian, his family and his loved ones in our thought and prayers! …we expect him at NT’s season opener this fall! Get well soon, Brian!
You don’t know me , i heard about you and your family’s situation through Tyler Walker. He and I went to high school together. I am praying for you and your family and will continue to do so through out your recovery. I wish you well
Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Congrats on walking today, Brian! I am sooooo happy to see you making such great progress!!!
Go Brian go go Brian!!!! Keep on kicking some serious tumor bootie! You got this; love conquers all!!!
Just wanted to tell you i love you! Kepp kickin the shit out of that tumor!
Prayers for you brother, and for your quick recovery and return to see the Mean Green play ball.
Brian- I love and miss you! Winter is coming…. Dolly Patton snow woman soon?? I’m glad your kicking this tumor’s butt. Cant wait to see you!
I love you both, Nicole and Brian! I’m thinking of y’all.
I don’t you but I am praying for you. I wish I had an assload of money to give you b/c you seem like the kind of guy I would be friends with. Kick Cancer ass!
Brian, I may not know you, but the way I see it this whole world is one giant family. I have faith that you will pull through. God Bless.
Good luck Brain!
Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday’s success or put its failures behind and start over again. That’s the way life is, with a new game every day, and that’s the way baseball is.
Bob Feller