Help out a young boy diagnosed with a brain tumor

Children can sometimes portray incredible resilience and strength in the face of adversity, and 5-year-old Ethan Michael Baran is one example of such strength. Young Ethan was diagnosed with a brain tumor this past Christmas Eve, after an emergency brain scan revealed a tennis ball-sized tumor. His family is hosting a benefit called Rainbows for Ethan from 1 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 2 and the Depew Polish Falcons, 445 Columbia Ave., and the time is now for getting word out to the community.

“He started having terrific head pains,” said Dick Baran, Ethan’s grandfather. “My daughter-in-law took him to the doctor three or four times. I kept saying he’s got the flu, and they kept sending him home.”

And then last Christmas Eve 2011, things got especially severe.

“He was whimpering, the pain was so bad,” Baran said.

While waiting for a neurosurgeon, Ethan had a fluid build-up in his brain. Doctors had to drain it and take the tumor out.

“When they took it out, they put in a titanium mesh plate, and of course they found another tumor and it’s inoperable, because you can’t mess with the brain stem,” Baran said. “He goes every six weeks for a brain scan. They have to watch for when it starts growing; the chemo makes it shrink, but it wont go away. Eventually, the chemo won’t shrink it anymore. We’re trying to get second and third opinions from hospitals in Boston and New York City.”

Ethan is currently showcasing incredible fortitude, and he’s doing fine other than getting dizzy spells. His family wants him to live as normal of a life for a 5-year-old child as possible. However, the medical expenses and travel expenses to Boston are putting a strain on the Barans. This is why they are hosting the benefit, which will also introduce the community to a very strong little boy enduring a huge obstacle.

While Baran lives in Newstead, the Depew Polish Falcons was chosen as the venue for the fund raiser because of its central location. Baskets and any other type of donation would be greatly appreciated. At the event, a week in Aruba will be raffled off, plus other theme baskets.

“Right now he is in limbo,” Baran said. “Every six weeks he has a brain scan, and it’s not pleasant, especially for a 5-year-old boy. We’re hoping for a miracle, that somebody comes up with something to treat a tumor. There’s no treatment for him at this time, especially for the inside of the brain, which I never realized controls the majority of your body functions.”

If you are going to attend one event in Depew, make it Rainbows for Ethan, hosted by the Baran family. Food has been donated by Chef’s Restaurant, and tickets are $20 for adults and free for ages 16 and under. For more information, call Rebekah Little (864-7694); Judy Zitzka (812-2692); Dick Baran (542-6305); or Mike Green (818-4339) or search “Rainbows for Ethan” on Facebook.

“I told him he was stronger than his grandpa,” Baran said. “He spent 10 days in intensive care. Kids are resilient. He doesn’t know the extent of the tumor, but he’s a strong little boy.”