The life of the Baumann family changed eight months ago when dad Phil was diagnosed with brain cancer. Family and friends wanting to help in some way, kept asking what can we do? And the family said thanks, but the thing anyone can do is give us a cure, and eventually CureFest a non-profit event to raise funds for brain cancer research, was born.
"The particular cancer I have, they claim there is no cure," said Phil Baumann.
He was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer, glioblastoma multiform.
"Headaches were the biggest thing. I would wake up in the morning and the headaches, were just extreme," said Phil Baumann.
He was diagnosed last September with GBM. The average life expectancy is 14 months.
"They did a CT scan and came in and said we see something quite significant and at that moment it was like, everything changed," Phil's wife, Misty Baumann said.
He is prepared to fight. He completed an innovative treatment that requires injections into his skull.
"One of the new things is a virus injection I've recently had, they use on a lot of rodents, I guess and have had some success. In saying there is no cure, anything that is going to beat this is going to be on the forefront," said Phil Baumann.
His family and friends continue to rally around him. There support is helping to bring about the first annual CureFest on July 28. The event aims to raise awareness and dollars for MD Anderson, allowing them to continue new areas of research on the road to finding a cure for brain cancer. Auction items are already coming in.
"We want to fund the next phase. So that when someone's son or daughter, because it's affecting younger and younger people nowadays, that they have opportunity to have hope and a cure also," said Lynn Beckwith, sister of Phil Baumann.
Fighting for his life and hoping to bring more attention and research to brain cancer, Baumann is staying focused on his health and those close to him.
"Trying to forget it's there, trying to keep the positive attitude so the self-healing is as strong as possible. Friends and family, keep them as close as possible," said Baumann.
CureFest will take place July 28, featuring food, an auction and live music acts including the Philip Griffin Band and Sundance Head.
It will run from noon to 11pm at the Humble Civic Arena with plenty of events for kids and again the non-profit event benefits brain cancer research.
