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Benefit For 5Yr Old Zackery Hoffman PDF Print E-mail
Pope County Tribune - Starbuck Times
Written by Steffanie Dahlseng   
Friday, 23 September 2011 12:03
Benefit for cancer patient Zachary Hoffman set for Sept. 24

Five-year-old Zachary Hoffman of Villard was diagnosed in August with a malignant brain tumor called medulloblastoma.

"I wanted to throw up. You're thinking you are dreaming. It's a nightmare," said Zack's mother, Mindy, of the diagnosis.

Mindy said that the first sign of trouble was when Zack started experiencing double vision. She took him to the eye doctor, and the doctor noticed swelling of the optic nerves that could only be caused by pressure inside the brain.

"A brain tumor never crossed my mind," said Mindy. "I just thought he needed glasses."

The Hoffman family went down to Children's Hospital in the Twin Cities. Zack's brain tumor was the size of an egg and located in the ventricles or waterways of the brain. The doctor told the Hoffmans that ventricles were like rivers and the tumor was acting like a dam, creating lakes of water in Zack's brain.

Doctors operated to remove the tumor and believe they got all of it. However, a tumor of this type will come back if radiation is not also used. The Hoffmans are waiting to hear when Zack's 15 months of treatment will begin. Zack's dad, Frank, will take him to Indiana for treatment. Frank said his bosses at Midwest Machinery have been incredibly understanding of the situation and the need for him to leave for six weeks.

"They like to start treatment within one month of the surgery," said Mindy. Zack's surgery was on August 24.

Frank said that Zack doesn't understand the seriousness of his cancer. He said, "I don't think he has any understanding at all. He just knows he needs to be fixed."

The first phase of his treatment is six weeks of radiation at Indiana University's Proton Center, where he will receive radiation five days per week and chemo once each week.

This will be followed by six weeks off of treatment. When Zack returns home, there will be a welcome home dinner at Glenwood Lutheran Church. Then Zack will undergo one year of chemotherapy.

Zack is currently attending kindergarten in Mrs. Hoven's class at Minnewaska Area Elementary School. He is only able to attend half-days. Mindy said that Zack loves school. Julie Peters, a friend of the Hoffman family, stays with Zack at school to ensure that he is doing well. Zack has trouble with balance.

Mrs. Hoven said, "With Julie Peters' help, Zack has done very well in school. The first day, he was here just two hours. Since then, he comes right away in the morning, and stays until after lunch. The kids are very respectful of his space, as we don't want to bump him. He has a table full of friends who love to play the Cootie game, Lincoln Logs, Legos, bristle block and puzzles.

She added, "Because he has to be careful of not falling, he doesn't go to gym or recess, and needs to hold Julie's hand when he walks around the room. He has checked out library books, he's been our flag holder for a helper, and he does everything else throughout our regular room routine. I have been very upfront with the kids from the beginning."

MAES wants Zack to feel like he is a part of the class, even from Indiana. "Our physical education teacher, Mrs. Amundson, came down today with a special little bracelet for him, with tokens from gym class that kids earn for running, good behavior, etc. It has a hand, a shoe, a 10 (we know he's a 10), etc. The whole idea is that he can take it with him, along with the special box it came in, and he can think about us when he's in the hospital. I will be sending weekly lesson plans along with pictures and things happening in our class," said Mrs. Hoven.

Mrs. Hoven said, "I would describe Zack as smiley, a hard worker, creative builder with Lincoln Logs, kind to others, a real gentle soul. He loves tractors and the outdoors."

Mindy said, "Zacky is a spirited child with a great sense of humor. He laughs and likes to play jokes. He is just a good-natured kid. He keeps me going."

Frank added, "Zacky is a charmer. He's the one that everybody just automatically loves and is drawn to. He's a neat kid."

Zack has two brothers: Calvin (10) and Luke (4). Mindy Hoffman works at Pope County Public Health.

A benefit will be held for Zack on Sept. 24 at the Villard School from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and will be a family fun festival. There will be carnival games, a tractor pull, a silent auction, bingo, raffles and food.

"This isn't supposed to happen to a five-year-old boy," said Mary Rajdl, one of the benefit's organizers. "It is easy to do something when you have so many people helping."

Frank said of the support his family has received since Zack was diagnosed, "The community has been phenomenal. It kind of reminds you of the beauty of living in a small town."

Additional donations for Zack can be sent to Zachary Hoffman Benefit Account, care of Eagle Bank, P.O. Box 43, Villard, MN 56385 or dropped off any of the four Eagle Bank locations.