In May 2018, our dad Tom Trainer was given the devastating diagnosis of stage four gliobastoma brain cancer. Later that year our family received much-needed good news: that we would give our dad his first grandchild the following summer. He was so excited about the news and always considered babies to be gifts from God. As the months progressed it became increasingly clear that the glioblastoma would deprive our dad of the opportunity to meet his grandchild. He passed away a few weeks before we discovered the baby would be a boy, but our charming Scottish father famously gave us his correct gender prediction of “a little chap.”

In June of 2019, almost exactly six months to the day after our dad passed away, our little chap was born and named after his grandfather. The comparisons began right away—the strapping, bright, good-natured boy was the little twin of the grandfather he never got to meet. 

Tommy is now almost four years old and has a little brother and another sibling on the way. Our family plans to walk/stroller-ride together on May 6 to work to prevent other children from missing the opportunity to know members of their family due to a glioblastoma diagnosis and to support those who have suffered the same loss.

Please help me support Connecticut Brain Tumor Alliance by making a contribution to my fundraiser and sharing this page with your family and friends. Every dollar I raise will advance Connecticut Brain Tumor Alliance's great cause! Additionally, you can ask me how you can get involved too. Together, we can make a difference!