Diesel Rhodes was born on Oct 29, 2008, with a rare cancer that was discovered just days after he was born. The biopsies confirmed the tumors on his brain and spinal cord were an aggressive type of cancer with a poor survival rate.

Diesel’s problems began at birth, when the umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck and doctors later found water on his brain. The doctors first suspicion was a brain aneurysm. But after Diesel was transferred to a Los Angeles hospital, doctors found a massive brain tumor and five more tumors on Diesel’s spine.

After installing a shunt to drain fluid from his brain, doctors told Tanya and Nate there was nothing more they could do. Diesel was given about six months to live.

They were told to take him home, love him and prepare for the inevitable.

Tanya and Nate learned of St. Jude's Hospital through a friend of another Bakersfield family who had a daughter at St. Jude’s Hospital receiving treatment for the same type of cancer.

Tanya and Nate contacted St. Jude’s and after a review of Diesel’s medical records, Tanya and Nate received a call from St. Jude that Diesel had been accepted into an ATRT trial.

Diesel was taken to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Tennessee, where he is one of 21 children in a clinical trial to treat his type of cancer.

Further tests confirmed the tumor’s are atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor, known as ATRT, a rare, aggressive cancer most common in children younger than 2 years old.

According to St. Jude’s Web site, the survival rate for the tumor in children under 3 years of age is less than 10 percent.

Diesel has already undergone surgery to remove a large portion of the tumor in his brain and is now receiving chemotherapy. The treatments are expected to take 6 months to help diminish the tumor.



Dear amazing heavenly father, thank you for the overtime that you have put in lately. Not only have you given us MIRACLES when it comes to Diesel, but you have done so much for Nathan and I and for our loved ones who were once lost with out you. Day by day I become more aware of you and of the work that you have set out to do. Not only in Diesel, but in the hearts of everyone who has been touched by him. I pray for strength and courage for myself, Nathan and for all of the wonderful people who have been physically, emotionally and spiritually involved with us every step of the way. In Jesus name, AMEN.