"THRIVE at the Journey; THRIVE at Family; and THRIVE at Helping People."

Chad's Story & Mission

GBM Impact

Beginning of Brain Cancer Diagnosis

In March of 2021, Chad was diagnosed with a grade 4 Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM), just two days after he turned 43 years old. Chad had only had a few days worth of dizziness as a symptom. Within hours of the CT scan, he had brain surgery and immediately had to start learning how to walk, talk and do things independently again. He spent 6 days in the hospital and then 7 days in an Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit. The staff were impressed and extremely moved by his motivation and what he was able to accomplish during this time. 

The fact is, Chad was told on multiple occasions that this disease is one of the very worst. There is no cure and no effective treatment. The average life expectancy is about 33 months with Chad's biomarkers. Chad challenged his doctors to look for every possible option, no matter how difficult to get.

Teaming Up with Research

This passion for life opened up an opportunity and introduction to a research team at the University of Iowa, Calvin Carter, PhD and Sunny Huang, MD. They had found some interesting vulnerabilities in cell metabolism with exposure to electromagnetic and radio frequency. They were recruited to research this technology in GBM. This just so happened to be Chad’s wheelhouse. He is a guy who also likes to solve hard problems. This combination led to making Calvin and Sunny’s idea into a prototype. 

Most ideas or new medicines often take an average of 10-15 years to go from concept to reality. Chad assisted this team to bringing their idea into an actual prototype to be used on humans within about 13 months! This is faster than 99% of all other clinical trials. Chad created an awareness walk called “THRIVE, Walk with Chad” and we raised over $200k in three years. 

Seeking Treatment

Chad’s cancer remained stable during his Standard of Care (SOC) treatment through November 2021. Chad continued to THRIVE until July 2022 when he had a scan that revealed some progression including a new growth spot. He began a new clinical trial with a drug called OKN007 in combo with Temodar. That only lasted 30 days, and the tumors continued to rapidly grow. In October of 2022, Chad’s next move was to get high dose focused radiation over a 5-day period. He had rebound inflammation and experienced left side weakness. A later dose of Avastin resolved this issue until about January of 2023. Keytruda was also used at this time as it has some found benefit in patients with IDH1 Wildtype, Chad’s genetic mutant tumor marker.

Remembering Chad

In January 2023, Chad had left side deficiencies again that this time, Avastin could not fix. He continues to do PT and OT to help with strength. He was finally offered an opportunity to use the device he helped develop. The journey came full circle. He battled to make the device named The Golden Halo a reality, and was the first human to get to test it out. He received this treatment and slept in the energy field 7-9 hours every night. He remained stable for months. The treatment team still has high hopes for what is yet to come in the future prolonging the lives of those battling brain cancer. 

THRIVING for 2+ years with GBM, Chad was considered a "long-term survivor!" Since diagnosis, Chad amazingly worked full time (minus a couple short stents of medical leave). His family made up for that missed spring break trip by taking it later in the year. Additionally, his family traveled to Puerto Rico the following spring break and to Washington D.C in August of 2022. Because of the support for the Golden Halo by friends, family and many others, it made it possible for Chad to not just survive longer but THRIVE in his brain cancer journey.