Young baby with ties to Stratton stricken with Retino Blastoma

Ken Johnston
Editor

A young family with ties to the Stratton area was hit with tragic news recently. Rob and Tami (nee Romyn) Davy of Badger, Minnesota found out that their 6 month old baby, Gavin, has Retino Blastoma.
This form of cancer develops in the eyes and in Gavin’s case is in both eyes. It was caught at his six month check up and it was discovered that he has three tumors behind his left eye and one behind his right eye. Tami’s aunt, Tracy Moen of Rainy River, said that Gavin has lost 40% of his vision already and likely will not gain that back.
Moen said that knowing the U.S. medical coverage system that she felt something had to be done to help Gavin and the family fight Retino Blastoma. That was reinforced even more when she discovered each of the treatments for the

disease cost $25,000 U.S. of which the Davy’s medical insurance through Marvin Windows covers 80% of the cost. He will likely have to have the treatment about five times and has already undergone the procedure twice and the tumors have shrunk quite a bit.
Moen said that in addition to the treatment costs, there

is the specialist costs and the travel to them. She started a button campaign with the help of Stacy Kelly in Emo. To date about $1,200 U.S. has been raised on the U.S. side and about $1,200 Canadian on this side of the border. The buttons are available at various businesses across the area on both sides of the border.
The Rainy River Legion has also agreed to donate $1,000 to the cause.
Plans are also underway to hold a benefit dinner and dance at the Stratton hall on June 22nd. Moen said that tickets will be available soon and will sell for $15 each with all the proceeds going to the Davys.
A pancake breakfast will be held this Saturday in Badger as well.
Retino Blastoma strikes about 1 in 100,000 kids anywhere from 5 months to 5 years of age. It has an 80% curable rate of which the chances are better if it is only in one eye. Moen said that the results of the treatment so far are encouraging.