Khamon’s Legacy
Khamon was nine years old when he was diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), an aggressive childhood cancer that forms in the brainstem. Smart, kind, respectful, helpful, responsible, and dedicated, he had been born and raised in Cambodia before moving to the United States in early May 2023.
In early October 2023, Khamon developed difficulty walking because he struggled to maintain his balance. Soon after, his speech became slurred, both eyes turned slightly red and moved abnormally, and he began to drool. He also vomited during breakfast on two consecutive mornings. Once a strong and alert boy, he never fully regained his earlier health.
Khamon was born on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2014, and he passed away on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 2024. He fought DIPG courageously for 13 months and 13 days, remaining unfailingly positive in everything he did.
Our Donation Story
Khamon loved Jesus Christ and always strove to follow Him. He constantly looked for ways to serve others, especially his family. One example of this occurred a month before he passed away, when he and his sister had a dental appointment. Because he could no longer walk, he relied on a wheelchair for mobility. His sister was sedated for her dental work, and when she awoke she felt headachy and dizzy but was asked to leave the treatment room. Without hesitation, Khamon offered her his wheelchair and insisted on walking instead. Though his body was limited, his heart and mind were boundless.
Khamon also loved studying and researching. When the tumor regrew and he could no longer attend school, he asked to enroll in a Home and Hospital School Program so he could keep learning. He spent his time sharing Khmer culture and language with the world through a Facebook page, and just three weeks before he passed, he asked us to take him to school in person to visit his teachers and friends.
A week before his death, we signed documents to donate his tissue for research, without being prompted by the medical staff. If he had been able, Khamon would have made the same choice, saying, “I’m sick, but I can still help.”
