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Boy diagnosed with lymphoblastic lymphoma fights back
A cough that resulted in a visit to an urgent care facility for Bradley Zugel turned out to be more than an autumn bug.
The 11-year-old Sparks boy's
X-ray in late September showed a large mass in his chest, so a CT scan followed, said Michelle Zugel, Bradley's mother.
Zugel was informed the following day her son had lymphoblastic lymphoma, a type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. It's caused by a cancerous growth of cells in the lymphatic system, which normally helps the body destroy and filter out bacteria and other harmful substances.
"He was on his field trip en route to San Francisco, and I called my husband (who was traveling with Bradley) on the bus," Zugel said. "The bus stopped in Sacramento, and he rented a car and drove Bradley to Oakland Children's Hospital."
Bradley was withdrawn from Spanish Springs Elementary School because being around too many other people puts him at risk for infection, Zugel said.
Bradley is being treated at Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland by Drs. Caroline Hastings and Robert Raphael, who couldn't be reached for comment Friday. However, Zugel said physicians from the hospital sometimes visit the
area, so some of Bradley's treatments are done locally.
"Every month is different," Zugel said. "It (travel to Oakland) could be up to four times per month."
Although chemotherapy treatments have been difficult on Bradley, he and the family do things to get their minds off the illness.
"We're home a lot as a family, and he plays guitar and so does my husband," Zugel said.
The 1978 Van Halen song, "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love," is one of the songs Bradley enjoys playing most.
In fact, his request through the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Northern Nevada is to meet guitarist Eddie Van Halen. Make-A-Wish enriches the lives of children with life-threatening medical conditions through its wish-granting work.
Several fundraisers have been held to help cover Bradley's medical expenses, and the next one is a "cut-a-thon" scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at A Salon 7,
20 Cheney St.
Reno resident Kristen Baker, a stylist at the salon, is organizing the event. Zugel is one of her clients.
Baker said her husband is a cancer survivor, and she knows how fast medical bills pile up, even if one has insurance.
"It's important to show the community can pull together to help others," Baker said. "It's nice to see there are people out there who care."
The Zugels, who also have a
13-year-old son, Jake, have health insurance. Zugel is a dental hygienist, and husband Kevin Zugel is a schoolteacher.
"Bills are still coming in on portions we still owe," she said.
Provided to the Reno Gazette-Journal
Bradley Zugel ,11, sits Friday in his Spanish Springs home. Bradley was diagnosed in September with lymphoblastic lymphoma, a type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma caused by a cancerous growth of cells in the lymphatic system,
FundRaiser CUT-A-THON for bradley zugel
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday
Where: A Salon 7, 20 Cheney St.
Cost: Free to attend; 100 percent of proceeds from the cost of haircuts, manicures and other services go toward Zugel's medical expenses
Other way to help: Contribute to the Bradley Zugel Donation Fund at any Bank of America branch
Details: 786-7770 or
A cough that resulted in a visit to an urgent care facility for Bradley Zugel turned out to be more than an autumn bug.
The 11-year-old Sparks boy's
X-ray in late September showed a large mass in his chest, so a CT scan followed, said Michelle Zugel, Bradley's mother.
Zugel was informed the following day her son had lymphoblastic lymphoma, a type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. It's caused by a cancerous growth of cells in the lymphatic system, which normally helps the body destroy and filter out bacteria and other harmful substances.
"He was on his field trip en route to San Francisco, and I called my husband (who was traveling with Bradley) on the bus," Zugel said. "The bus stopped in Sacramento, and he rented a car and drove Bradley to Oakland Children's Hospital."
Bradley was withdrawn from Spanish Springs Elementary School because being around too many other people puts him at risk for infection, Zugel said.
Bradley is being treated at Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland by Drs. Caroline Hastings and Robert Raphael, who couldn't be reached for comment Friday. However, Zugel said physicians from the hospital sometimes visit the
area, so some of Bradley's treatments are done locally.
"Every month is different," Zugel said. "It (travel to Oakland) could be up to four times per month."
Although chemotherapy treatments have been difficult on Bradley, he and the family do things to get their minds off the illness.
"We're home a lot as a family, and he plays guitar and so does my husband," Zugel said.
The 1978 Van Halen song, "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love," is one of the songs Bradley enjoys playing most.
In fact, his request through the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Northern Nevada is to meet guitarist Eddie Van Halen. Make-A-Wish enriches the lives of children with life-threatening medical conditions through its wish-granting work.
Several fundraisers have been held to help cover Bradley's medical expenses, and the next one is a "cut-a-thon" scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at A Salon 7,
20 Cheney St.
Reno resident Kristen Baker, a stylist at the salon, is organizing the event. Zugel is one of her clients.
Baker said her husband is a cancer survivor, and she knows how fast medical bills pile up, even if one has insurance.
"It's important to show the community can pull together to help others," Baker said. "It's nice to see there are people out there who care."
The Zugels, who also have a
13-year-old son, Jake, have health insurance. Zugel is a dental hygienist, and husband Kevin Zugel is a schoolteacher.
"Bills are still coming in on portions we still owe," she said.
Provided to the Reno Gazette-Journal
Bradley Zugel ,11, sits Friday in his Spanish Springs home. Bradley was diagnosed in September with lymphoblastic lymphoma, a type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma caused by a cancerous growth of cells in the lymphatic system,
FundRaiser CUT-A-THON for bradley zugel
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday
Where: A Salon 7, 20 Cheney St.
Cost: Free to attend; 100 percent of proceeds from the cost of haircuts, manicures and other services go toward Zugel's medical expenses
Other way to help: Contribute to the Bradley Zugel Donation Fund at any Bank of America branch
Details: 786-7770 or
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