Gavin was diagnosed with an optic glioma brain tumor at the age of 2 ½.

The daycare provider noticed small light brown marks on Gavin’s skin. They later learned that this is an indicator of Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1). Another symptom of NF1 is optic glioma.

An MRI was done, and it confirmed the brain tumor diagnosis. Gavin has been on and off treatment for the last 12 years. He just finished proton radiation this June and is still being treated by his Dana-Farber team.

Gavin enjoys going to the gym, playing guitar and video games.

He attends Walpole High School and will be a sophomore in the fall.

The McCarthy family has known many of the Dana-Farber staff for 12 years and look forward to seeing them at appointments. Lisa Scherber and the staff do an amazing job planning activity for the families and it gives them all something to look forward to.

The music therapist has been especially wonderful and has taught Gavin how to play the guitar and the ukulele.