Grayson and his family made many trips to see Norton Children’s specialists since September 2022, but none was more memorable than Dec. 29, 2023.

In late 2022, Grayson complained about bad smells. He covered his nose and sometimes shook. Trips to his primary care physician didn’t reveal anything.

On Sept. 17, he played a flag football game and he complained of two bad smells. That day, his family brought him to Norton Children’s Hospital, and he had a seizure while being evaluated. After testing, Grayson was diagnosed with a Grade 2 astrocytoma, a slow-growing brain tumor that was discovered on his optic nerve and near his pituitary gland. It was the size of a golf ball.

During his 15 months of chemotherapy treatment to shrink the tumor, Grayson became best friends with Dr. Mustafa Barbour, his primary oncologist from Norton Children’s Cancer Institute. They bonded over Grayson’s love of sports. As part of their special relationship, Dr. Barbour agreed to pay Grayson $1 for every basketball shot he made in the clinic – wadding up a sheet of paper and aiming for the garbage can.

On Dec. 29, Grayson’s family and friends from Holy Spirit Parish & School – Louisville, KY headed to Norton Children’s Cancer Institute to cheer on Grayson as he rang the bell, celebrating the end of chemotherapy.