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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday June 7, 2008 - 21 Loyola student won't let rare illness get him down By Hiba Kesebi SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Austin Brasil is not a typical teenager. And it's not his health condition that sets him apart. Nor is it the brain tumor that he is currently battling with. Rather, it's his personality, his perseverance, his confidence, and his desire to help. Brasil was born with Neurofibromatosis (NF1) a disorder that occurs in one in every 4,000 births. The condition causes tumors--Neurofibromas -- to grow on nerve tissues. "My nerves just don't know where and when to stop growing," said 17-year-old Brasil. According to Brasil, the condition doesn't really hurt, unless something makes direct impact with one of those nerves. In Brasil's case it's the palm of his hands, his spine, and the back of his head. Although rare, Neurofibromas can become cancerous in three to five per cent of cases. Brasil never really had any severe implications from the disease. "Sometimes I would get really bad headaches," he explained, "and I'd just have to leave school come back home and rest. Every few months, I had to go in and get an MRI taken to monitor my condition." The doctors would periodically monitor Brasil -- to check for any growths caused by NF1. Up until three years ago, Brasil's condition -- aside from the occasional headaches -- seemed tolerable. However, in April 2005, during an MRI, doctors discovered an abnormal growth in Brasil's brain. He learned that he had a brain tumor. "I was shocked when I found out," he said. "I wasn't feeling anything different during the time. My headaches were stronger, and I was getting tired more easily, but it's not like I was having new symptoms." The doctors continued to monitor his condition. But the tumor was growing. Soon, Brasil became a frequent patient at Sick Kids hospital. He would stay there on an "on and off" basis. His longest stay was two months. "At that time, I felt like -- with the way I was feeling -- that it was better to be watched than be alone...I was put on a lot of medication and I had to have chemo sessions." Brasil said the treatment drained his body and strength to the point where he could no longer attend classes at St. Ignatius of Loyola, his high school -- even after coming home from the hospital. "The most painful part of the treatment was the IV chemo," said Brasil. Peripheral Intravenous chemotherapy or IV chemo is administered with an IV -- a small plastic tube -- that is placed on the hands or arms. "You just feel so tired after chemo. It makes you sick and nauseas. I just felt beat. Tired. Defeated." he said. "But then I knew I had to stay positive. I would be feeling down and tired, and then I would look at little kids in the hospital who are laughing, and playing, and I would tell myself `I need to be stronger.'" Currently Brasil is not on IV chemo. Austin Brasil "Right now, I'm on antibiotics that replace chemo. My doctor said that people with my condition usually respond well to this medication. So we're going to test it out and see." He will find out how well his body responded to the treatment after three months. But he's ready for anything. His condition had its ups and downs. "There was a point where the growth was stable, and then there was a point where the growth upped, then there was shrinkage, and then it upped. Right now the cancer hasn't been removed. But it's at the stage where it's not growing." Even this medication has its side effects. The drugs defy Brasil's immune system, making him more prone to illness and less able to recover quickly. Despite of his health issues, Brasil continues to be a prominent figure at school. On May 22, he organized a fundraiser event at Loyola. "When I started to feel better, I decided that I want to help Sick Kids. I want to give back to the support that they gave me." In September 2007, he sent out a proposal to Justine O'Grady, the school's vice- principal to hold an evening production fundraiser at the school for the Toronto for Sick Children's pediatric brain cancer research unit. His proposal was accepted, however, it was decided that the fundraiser would take place during school hours. "We just felt that it would be better to have a studentspay-out-of-class type fundraiser," said O'Grady. Students paid $3 to optout-of class and have their name put in a draw for a pair of tickets to a Toronto FC soccer match. "My cousin was able to get me TFC tickets, and I thought they would make more people come to the fundraiser, and that's why I raffled them," said Brasil. The fundraiser showcased the school's talents, with a magic show and an act put together by the Grade 11 improv class. The star of the fundraiser though, was really Brasil. He had the crowd in laughs, he was confident and cracked jokes when they were needed. He seemed like a healthy, cheerful 17-year-old. "I only feel and look like this because of the medication," he said, his eyes scanning the wooden desk in Loyola's conference room. "Without the medication I'm in so much pain." Brasil aimed to raise $1, 500. He actually raised $5,000. Because of his previous unstable condition, Brasil was forced to miss a significant number of classes. As a result, his next step, right now, is to concentrate on his schooling. "I'm physically in Grade 11, but I had to go back to Grade 10, because I missed half of the school year," he said. He has made himself a commitment to make the fundraiser an annual event. 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