Meet Levi: who finds the silver lining

Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as a toddler and brain cancer twice, Levi and his family turned to Children’s Health for a decade for world-class care. 

Levi is a dog person. His mom thinks he could be a dog trainer when he grows up. This 12-year-old doesn’t disagree, but he sees himself more as a geologist or paleontologist.

Looking at his sketchbook, 12-year-old Levi could probably also be an artist or designer. Most likely, his creativity, compassion and resiliency could be applied to any path in life. 

As his mom Lauren said, “It doesn’t matter what Levi’s going through, he’ll always find the silver lining and push through.” 

This can-do attitude has served Levi well – because Levi has been through a lot.  

An early diagnosis of type 1 diabetes 

When Levi was just 2 years old, he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. And even though it’s a bit of a drive, they’ve always taken him to Children’s Health’s nationally recognized Pediatric Diabetes Program at Children’s Medical Center Dallas.  

“There’s a trust I have for our care team at Children’s Health. They have Levi’s best interest at heart. They listen. They care about him. And they care about us too,” said Lauren.  

Over the last decade, Levi’s family has turned to the endocrinologists to help Levi grow and thrive – and they’ve gotten to know them very well, too.  

But what they didn’t expect was expanding Levi’s care team to include oncologists, neurologists and ophthalmologists.  

Mysterious headaches and vomiting 

When Levi was 9, he began experiencing frequent headaches – headaches that were followed by vomiting and exhaustion. Lauren was concerned when she noticed that Levi was “off” on the baseball field – missing plays he normally would’ve made or being slower to respond to the ball. Looking for some peace of mind, she decided to take Levi to Children’s Medical Center Plano, a recently expanded campus that cares for children north of Dallas.   

After describing his symptoms, the doctor immediately ordered a CT scan of Levi’s brain.  

Soon, Lauren and Levi were in an ambulance headed to Children’s Medical Center Dallas.  

Ready to act immediately in Dallas 

In Dallas, Levi and his mom were met by a robust team of doctors and nurses who’d been assembled to help Levi get the care he needed.  

They immediately did a MRI, which confirmed why Levi was not his normal self on the baseball field. Levi had at least three tumors in his brain and several small tumors in his spine due to medulloblastoma, a type of brain cancer.  

Within 72 hours, Levi underwent two separate six-hour brain surgeries. These surgeries were followed by extensive treatment at Children’s Health’s Pediatric Brain Tumor Program that included: 30 rounds of radiation and seven months of inpatient chemotherapy at one of the top children’s cancer programs in the country, the Pauline Allen Gill Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders.  

Levi and his family had a lot of time to get to know every inch of the Dallas hospital.  

Finding furry friends and fun in the studio 

Being in the hospital for so long was not easy on Levi and his family, but so many of their memories focused on the bright spots.  

For Levi, his best days in the hospital were the ones he got to snuggle with a fluffy golden retriever named Canter – one of the facility dogs who has a knack for staying calm with nervous kids and is part of the Children’s Health Pet Therapy Program, which relies on philanthropic support.  

“Hanging out with the therapy dogs always made me feel better. They became my best friends,” said Levi, who will runover and hug any therapy dog he encounters while walking the halls at Children’s Health.  He loved his time with the therapy dogs so much that he gave each of them cookies and toys for Christmas last year – and plans to do it again this year.  

And when procedures, treatments and medicine made him feel down, Levi found renewed energy and the chance “just to be a kid again” at Seacrest Studios – the live TV and radio station inside Children’s Medical Center Dallas.   

Some days, he would call in to the studio from his room to joke around with the staff and other kids. Other days, he participated in in-person programming and activities, which gave him a much-needed change of scenery from the reality of cancer treatment.  

Lauren was so impressed by the unique opportunity provided by Seacrest Studios that she brought friends to tour the cool, interactive studio space.  

“Having different outlets for kids to be kids helps keep their minds off all the scary things. And the hospital and staff will go to any lengths for these kids to be able to feel like themselves again,” she said.  

A focus on others and a relapse 

Levi’s mom describes him as humble and compassionate. “He’s never been a ‘why-is-this-happening-to-me person,’” she said. “And, like his care team, he’s always looking for opportunities to brighten the lives of others.”  

Putting his artistic skills to work, Levi made cards for other patients at the hospital to give them encouragement.  

He also designed the 2023 T-shirt for the CCBD, using the theme from his favorite sport – baseball.  

And when Levi relapsed after 9 months of remission, his care team immediately launched into treatment because they’d been following him so closely – and they got to know Levi even better. Levi also became even more attuned to his own care.  

“He learned the ins and outs of his port – and he knew what he liked best. He’d tell his care team how best to give him his medications,” she said. “And they’d respond by saying, ‘OK, tell us how you want it, buddy. Tell us how you feel.’”  

More time at the hospital made Lauren even more grateful for the deep, caring relationships they’ve built with Levi’s care team.  

“They always get Levi to laugh and greet him with the biggest smile. They ask lots of questions, pay attention and take time to get to know him – and that results in better care,” she said.  

Recently, Levi received a virtual reality headset from the hospital, as a gift from a donor who wanted to celebrate kids’ milestones. So far, his favorite games include Beat Saber, Gorilla Tag – and of course, baseball.  

Coming out on top 

In October 2024, Levi rang the bell in the cancer clinic for the second time, signifying the end of his second course of cancer treatment.  

When other families ask how they’ve survived nine years of specialized treatment, Lauren tells them: “It’s scary, but there is another side to it, and you’ll come out on top.” 

She goes on to share, “It may sound funny, but Children’s Health is a place that Levi enjoys. It’s because they make it fun, and you can do things you can’t typically do in other places, thanks to the generosity of donors who’ve helped create such a kid-friendly, family-focused environment. It’s a serious place with world-class care – but it feels inviting.” 

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