2% IN WASHINGTON. I’M AMY LU WVTM 13. THANK YOU. AMY. WILL OVERCOMING OBSTACLES NEW THIS MORNING A LOCAL TEEN STILL BATTLING A TUMOR. HE’S HAD MOST OF HIS LIFE. WELL, THIS MONTH IS NF AWARENESS. NF IS A GENETIC CONDITION THAT CAUSES TUMORS TO GROW ON NERVES. WVTM 13 TEENS PATSY DOUGLAS WAS ABLE TO SIT DOWN WITH HIS FAMILY PASSING JUST A FEW DAYS. HE’S GOING TO GRADUATE A MOMENT. THEY DIDN’T KNOW IF THEY WOULD EVER SEE RIGHT? YEAH, DEFINITELY. HE’S GOING TO BE WALKING ACROSS THAT STAGE NEXT WEEK, GRADUATING FROM RIGHT HERE AT VESTAVIA HILLS HIGH SCHOOL. AND THIS IS A MOMENT HE’S BEEN WAITING FOR HIS ENTIRE LIFE. OTHER KIDS WITH NF ARE OUT THERE. I MEAN, WE’RE OUT HERE. PHILLIP MOSS AND HIS FAMILY GOING INTO A NEW CHAPTER AS HE HEADS TO COLLEGE. BUT HE’S STILL SUFFERING FROM A GENETIC CONDITION CALLED NEUROFIBROMATOSIS TYPE ONE. AFTER FINDING A TUMOR WHEN HE WAS JUST SIX YEARS OLD, HE WAS AT RISK TO HAVE DIFFICULTIES BREATHING AND ALSO SWALLOWING. HE WAS ALSO AT RISK FOR CANCER. MOSS WENT THROUGH MULTIPLE HOSPITAL VISITS AND SURGERIES TO HELP CURE THE CONDITION. IN 2014, HE WAS ABLE TO GET AN FDA APPROVED TREATMENT FOR NF, WHICH HELPED SHRINK HIS TUMOR BY 60%. IT’S BEEN A ROUGH ROAD, UH, GONE THROUGH A LOT OF MEDICAL PROCEDURES, STRUGGLED A LOT WITH THOSE WHEN I WAS YOUNGER. I USED TO GO EVERY THREE MONTHS TO GO GET BLOOD DRAWN MRIS, CARDIOGRAMS. ALL THE WORKS. SO COMING HERE TODAY AND NOW GRADUATE GOING SOON. IT’S IT’S A BIG, BIG DEAL. DEFINITELY A BIG DEAL AND A BIG TESTIMONY FOR HIM. NOW, THERE’S STILL NO CURE FOR NF, BUT THE CHILDREN’S TUMOR FOUNDATION, AS WELL AS THE MOSS FAMILY, THEY ARE STILL DOING
Advertisement
‘Rough road’: High school senior details difficult history with NF
Updated: 1:22 AM EDT May 21, 2024
This month marks Neurofibromatosis Awareness Month, also known as NF, a genetic condition that leads to the growth of tumors on the nerves.Alabama teenager Philip Moss continues to confront a tumor that has persisted throughout most of his life.Phillip Moss’ family found a swollen lump growing in his neck, which turned out to be a tumor, at only 6 years old.”Thinking back now, it’s a pretty scary situation to be in, ” Moss said.He had a high risk of difficulties with breathing and swallowing, as well as a heightened risk of cancer. Moss underwent numerous hospital visits and surgeries in an attempt to address the condition.“It’s been a rough road. Gone through a lot of medical procedures when I was younger. I would go every three months to go get blood drawn, memorized and programs. All the works. Coming here today and now graduating soon, it’s a big deal,” Moss said.In 2014, he received Food and Drug Administration-approved treatment for NF, resulting in a 60% reduction in the size of his tumor.Moss is set to graduate from high school in the coming days and will subsequently pursue higher education at Mississippi State University.Although there is currently no cure for this condition, the Children’s Tumor Foundation and the Moss family are actively engaged in ongoing efforts to advance research aimed at saving the lives of affected children.
This month marks Neurofibromatosis Awareness Month, also known as NF, a genetic condition that leads to the growth of tumors on the nerves.
Advertisement
Alabama teenager Philip Moss continues to confront a tumor that has persisted throughout most of his life.
Phillip Moss’ family found a swollen lump growing in his neck, which turned out to be a tumor, at only 6 years old.
“Thinking back now, it’s a pretty scary situation to be in, ” Moss said.
He had a high risk of difficulties with breathing and swallowing, as well as a heightened risk of cancer. Moss underwent numerous hospital visits and surgeries in an attempt to address the condition.
“It’s been a rough road. Gone through a lot of medical procedures when I was younger. I would go every three months to go get blood drawn, memorized and programs. All the works. Coming here today and now graduating soon, it’s a big deal,” Moss said.
In 2014, he received Food and Drug Administration-approved treatment for NF, resulting in a 60% reduction in the size of his tumor.
Moss is set to graduate from high school in the coming days and will subsequently pursue higher education at Mississippi State University.
Although there is currently no cure for this condition, the Children’s Tumor Foundation and the Moss family are actively engaged in ongoing efforts to advance research aimed at saving the lives of affected children.
