June 5, 1991 - August 27, 2003
IN LOVING MEMORY OF STEPHEN M. PROIA
Please visit the following link. Stephen has a star on Page 12
God looked around his Garden and found an empty place.
He then looked down upon his earth and saw your loving face
He put his arms around you and lifted you to rest.
His Garden must be beautiful, he always takes the best.
He knew that you were suffering, he knew you were in pain.
And knew that you would never get well here on earth again.
He saw your path was difficult, he closed you tired eyes,
He whispered to you "Peace be Thine" and gave you wings to fly.
When we saw you sleeping, so calm and free of pain,
We would not wish you back to earth to suffer once again.
You've left us precious memories, your love will be our guide,
You'll forever live on through us, you're always by our side.
It broke our hearts to lose you, but you did not go alone.
For a big part of us went with you on the day God called you home
Brain stem tumors account for 10 percent of pediatric brain tumors. The peak incidence is between ages 5 and 10.

The patients' symptoms often improve dramatically during or after six weeks of irradiation. Unfortunately, problems usually recur after six to nine months, and progress rapidly. Survival past 12 to 14 months is uncommon, and new approaches to treating these tumors are urgently needed.
                                                                                   St. Judes Children's Hospital
When Stephen began school in the fall of 2002 things seemed they were off to a bad start.
Stephen's teachers were complaining about his behavior. After a few weeks he complained to his teacher he was seeing double. Right then I made an appointment for an eye exam and an appointment with the pediatrician on the same day. At the eye exam the doctor noticed he had a problem with his left eye, she called it a 6th nerve palsy, and wanted him to have an mri. That afternoon he was seen by the pediatrician.

Stephen was diagnosed on Oct. 2, 2002 with an inoperable brain stem glioma at Mass General in Boston. He endured 6 wks of radiation and 6 months of temodar(chemo pill) He was doing very well for 6 months until the tumor began to grow again. He was given the go ahead in April 2003 from his oncologist to play baseball, at the time he was doing great. He would race up and down the halls of the hospital with his doctor. At the end of May he began to feel weakness on his right side.He left his baseball game during warm ups because he could not reach the other player with the ball. Right then I knew my worst fears, the tumor was progressing.
Stephen was taken off of temodar and entered into a phase 1 clinical trial. Unfortunately things just got worse. It was all a down hill battle from there.

Stephen was a fighter, his main goal was to get better!.
Stephen passed away at home surrounded by family and friends.

Stephen loved baseball and attended many Red Sox games. He also enjoyed the Celtics, Pats and was a big fan of the WWF. He loved family vacations, video games and playing cards and pool.
      It's lonely here without you
      We miss you more each day
      For life is not the same to us
      Since you were called away
      To your resting place we visit
      Place flowers there with care
      But no one knows our heartache
      When we turn and leave you there
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