02/16/2026
Meet Aksel, this year’s stair climb honoree!
Each year, we’re honored to rally support for a brave child and their family facing cancer treatment or a rare medical condition raising vital funds to help cover medical expenses.
The night before Aksel was born, we learned that several large choroid plexus cysts had developed in his brain late in pregnancy. After four days in the NICU, doctors diagnosed him with Dysgenesis of the Corpus Callosum — a rare condition where the connection between the brain’s two hemispheres is malformed or incomplete because the cysts had grown in its place. Early on, we were told to prepare for the worst as the cysts continued to increase pressure inside his skull.
Despite this difficult start, Aksel has shown remarkable resilience. When deficits were noticed on the left side of his body, he began physical therapy and neurological care right away. In September 2025, he underwent his first brain surgery to relieve intracranial pressure and give his developing brain more room to grow. The procedure was considered a success, and even his neurosurgeon was surprisingly impressed by how well Aksel recovered — especially knowing the surgery was only a short-term fix. The cysts cannot be fully removed until he is older and able to undergo a full craniotomy.
Aksel’s next surgery is scheduled for the beginning of December to continue reducing intracranial pressure as new cysts form. Through every step, Aksel continues to meet each challenge with strength and determination, inspiring everyone around him.