Meet Mason Fidel

To know Mason was to love him. He was the best big brother and the sweetest boy who loved giving nightly compliments before heading to bed. He loved to play soccer, go bowling, playing dinosaurs on his iPad and teaching the whole family to play Fortnite. 

Diagnosed with DIPG at just 4 years old, Mason had his childhood stolen from him. We were told he had 9 months to live, that there was nothing doctors could do except radiation to give us a little more time. And to just go home and make memories with him. 

He went from being a healthy active kid to spending his time in the hospital, through clinical trials, brain surgery and multiple rounds of radiation. And even despite all this, even in his hardest days he did it with a smile on his face. He showed a courage and strength that no child should even have to know. 

He fought his battle for 15 long hard months. DIPG is cruel. It steals everything from them. Their ability to walk, talk and breathe. But it doesn’t steal their mind.

Through it all, Mason remained full of the joy and laughter that he brought into everyone’s life. He reminded us every day what true strength looks like—not just in fighting, but in loving, in laughing, and in holding onto joy even in the face of unimaginable challenges. His absence leaves a whole in our lives that can never be filled and is loved and missed by so many. 

And in true Mason spirit, in one of his final acts of kindness his brain and tumor were donated for research in hope that one day dipg can find better treatment or a cure. So no siblings lose their big brother, and no parent hears I’m sorry there’s nothing we can do.