Humor, courage and community see Triway Local student battling brain tumor to graduation

WOOSTER TWP. – Not all heroes wear capes; some wear caps and gowns and walk at graduation.

After battling a brain tumor, Christian Mendoza graduated with his class at Triway High School, enjoying a standing ovation as he made his way back to his seat after receiving his diploma.

The triumphant day capped a long road in his courageous recovery.

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Symptoms at the start of his sophomore year were brutal. Mendoza braved prolonged vomiting and then severe headaches.

His mother, Heather Garnes, said after several exams and an MRI came the diagnosis.

“His pediatrician called us that afternoon and said it was a brain tumor and we needed to get to the ER because his tumor was blocking pathways in his brain that caused hydrocephalus (a build-up of fluid in the brain),” Garnes said, her eyes tearing as she recalled the day.

Mendoza's condition grew worse as the fluid created pressure.

“I suddenly felt like a bing, bang, bong in my head,” Mendoza said, describing his experience.

Christian Mendoza's treatment for a brain tumor moves to Akron Children's Hospital

He was immediately transferred to Akron Children’s Hospital where oncologist Dr. Erin Wright said the tumor was located between the brainstem and cerebellum at the back of his skull. Doctors worked to drain the fluid in his brain.

Dr. Joel Katz, a pediatric neurosurgeon, and his medical team performed more than 20 surgeries on Mendoza.

“The first surgery was to drain the pressure,” Katz said. The tumor was removed a few days later in an 11-hour surgery. “It was very complex because the tumor was invading very important parts of his brain stem,” he said.

It followed later with shunt surgery, adding a G-tube to support his body with nutrition and treating blood clots that appeared between his brain and the skull.

It didn’t end there for Mendoza as a complication developed.

“Posterior fossa syndrome (a condition that sometimes develops after brain tumor surgery) can lead to a wide variety of symptoms, including difficulty with speech, weakness, difficulty with walking, and many others that can lead to the need for significant therapies,” Dr. Wright said.

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Mendoza lost his ability to talk and walk, but he didn’t loose his determination. He began a new journey with rehabilitation and excessive physical therapy.

Silly String and glitter bombs help Mendoza stay positive, spark laughter

Occupational therapist Brittany Holmes helped Mendoza to slowly regain his strength. For about six hours a day, six days a week he practiced how to walk, move his arms, and say few words.

“We worked on reconnecting his body with his brain the way it was,” Holmes said.

Mendoza kept a positive attitude. Even during the toughest times, he managed to look at the bright side and beat the pain with his strongest weapon — facetiousness.

“He is a funny kinda kid, always (using) humor and it helps getting through his sessions,” Holmes said.

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For example, Mendoza would surprise doctors and nurses at Akron Children's with glitter bombs and silly string. He often played pranks on nurses by pretending to sleep then scare them.

Garnes told how her son would purposely hold his breath to set off the monitor alarms so the nurse on duty would have to come back into his room to check him.

Triway Local educators help Christian Mendoza stay current with schoolwork

Although Mendoza missed most of his sophomore and junior years, he was able to catch up with the support of the Triway High School intervention team.

Principal Scott Wharton said they provided the lessons, and he credits Mendoza for doing the hard work and Garnes for supporting her son.

“All along he said he wanted to walk at graduation and that was his goal that he set, and we are so glad that we were able to assist him in that process,” Wharton said.

Rick Grayshock was assigned by the school to be Mendoza’s aide. He assisted him with typing and writing as well as his physical needs at school, including monitoring his G-tube feeding.

“You got to give him all the credit for his motivation and his desire to get up early in the morning and try to get better I know a lot of adults that wouldn’t have that drive that 17-old kid had,” Grayshock said.

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Community raises money for a home makeover

As Mendoza won the hearts of the community and school with his sense of humor, teachers and students created a fundraising campaign to remodel his home so he could better navigate it.

Nearly $3,000 in donations were collected to redesign the bathroom and move Mendoza's bedroom to the first floor.

“One of the therapists at the hospital helped me design it. We taped it out on the floor at the hospital to see how is he gonna step in? Where's he gonna sit? How's he gonna turn where the handrails going to be,” Garnes said.

The award for courage at Triway Local goes to Christian Mendoza

Surrounded by family, friends and his supporters, Mendoza walked to receive his diploma at Triway High School on May 20.

“I see a lot of patients quite frankly and not everyone gets that opportunity, especially with the circumstances he was in. I’m so proud of him,” Holmes said.

Mendoza was surprised by a standing ovation on graduation day and was presented the Courage Award for his determination and persistence.

Wharton announced the award will be known as the Mendoza Courage Award and will be given each year to a student "who exemplifies that determination and hard work,” the principal said.

As Mendoza's recovery continues, the new graduate is eyeing his future, happy and hopeful the rough days are behind him.

“Christian has shown me how much effort he puts in, and if he can put in that much effort, how much effort I need to put in with all my patients, including him,” Katz said.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Titan strong: Determined Triway grad triumphs through brain tumor