May 13, 2005

NPTC patient gives hope to others

The Northeast Proton Therapy Center (NPTC) at the MGH has provided cancer treatment to many grateful patients. The Morris family is especially grateful to the center after their 8-year-old son Tristan was treated for cancer of the spine. To show their gratitude to the center and Tristan's doctors, the Morris family created the Tristan's Gift of Hope Foundation to raise funds to support care and treatment of pediatric patients at the center. On April 29, the family presented the center with a check for $275,000. "Tristan has always been the soul of our family and is now the soul of this fund," said Jim Morris, Tristan's father. "Through this fund, we hope to increase the number of children who benefit from the center and the wonderful doctors here."

Guest speakers at the reception included Peter L. Slavin, MD, president of the MGH; Jay Loeffler, MD, chief of Radiation Oncology; Nancy Tarbell, MD, director of Radiation Oncology for MassGeneral Hospital for Children (MGHC); and David Ebb, MD, of Hematology/Oncology for MGHC. Slavin also presented Tristan with a plaque that will hang in the NPTC to remember the gift of hope that his family has given.

The Morris family with Slavin, Tarbell and Ebb