While many cancers today have improved as far as treatments and survival rates, hearing the diagnosis is still stunning: You have cancer. But to hear it twice…sometimes there are no words.
Tate Clayburn of Magee was just a teenager when the family received the first diagnosis of grade 3 anaplastic astrocytoma. He had a seizure driving to church on October 4, 2017. “They discovered a mass on the brain that day,” his mother Rebecca said. On December 5, 2017, he had brain surgery and the biopsy was made in January 2018.
As can be expected Tate was devastated. He and his entire family were rocked but it was full steam ahead with a treatment plan mapped out by St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. “His treatment after surgery included six weeks of chemotherapy, seven days a week, and six weeks of radiation, Monday through Friday,” according to Rebecca. Once this initial treatment was completed Tate continued a year of chemotherapy five days on and 23 days off.
He had been attending Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Wesson which he found to be extremely difficult. After surgery, chemotherapy and radiation Tate said, “I gained a lot of weight from the medication and was diagnosed with ADHD. I was also closer with God because of my situation.”
Tate finished out the year in Wesson and returned to Magee to attend Co-Lin Simpson Center in the fall of 2018. While there he was a member of the Trailblazers and Student Government Association. He also was president of Phi Beta Lambda and the 2018-2019 Wolf Pack Tennis Team. In 2020 he was elected Mr. Co-Lin of the Simpson Center.
In addition to his family, Tate has a posse of friends who were with him through this struggle. His high school friends Calder Reed, Corey Vallejos, Owen McCool, Todd Larkin and Sam Williams were a big support and all remained close. Tate, Calder and Corey have made many memories through the years including vacations to Orange Beach, AL for the Hangout Fest; Panama City, FL and numerous trips to the Louisiana State University (LSU), campus where Calder is a student.
Tate was declared officially in remission on July 15, 2019, and began making plans as any college student would.
Once he graduated from Co-Lin Simpson Center, Tate enrolled in the University of Southern Mississippi (USM). He said, “I was working at Chick-Fil-A in Hattiesburg and as a Magee Volunteer Fire Department firefighter. I was a full time student studying business administration at USM. I was just trying to figure out what to do after college.”
Even in remission Tate had to return initially every three to four months to St. Jude’s for scans. In 2022 the doctors stretched it to six months. His last scans in August 2022 were clear.
But things changed in December 2022. According to Tate, “My symptoms were some loss of motor skills with my right hand and feeling dizzy. I went to the ER with my grandparents because I didn’t know if anything was wrong or if I was just tired from working so much.”
Rebecca said Tate was also slurring his words. Her parents took him to the emergency room at Baptist Hospital where doctors found a mass in the cerebellum.
This news was completely unexpected since only four months prior all the scans had been clear. “We are all very devastated. Callie Grace has had several moments, but she’s more private. She has changed in just a short period of time. She is doing all the things that I, being the mom, do around the house. Caden took it very hard. Tate and Caden have always been close and he didn’t do well whatsoever when we first found out. Jason and I are living a parents’ worst nightmare. We have been doing so much research to see what the best options are,” Rebecca said.
Tate added, “It has been tough because I had to take medical leave from everything along with surgery and more radiation. I’ve also seen God move more.”
The family followed up with St. Jude’s and received grim news that it was likely glioblastoma and treatment options were limited to radiation to prolong life.
Even though Tate was scheduled for a biopsy they wanted a second opinion and found one with a neurologist at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC). His diagnosis was the complete opposite from St. Jude’s, according to Rebecca. “Tate ended up in the hospital at UMMC due to persistent vomiting and dizziness. It progressed over the next couple of days so the surgeon scheduled surgery and took out what he could.” Within a few days of surgery Tate was moved to Methodist Rehabilitation Center for inpatient physical therapy to help him with mobility issues.
Tate was discharged after three weeks and spent a few days at home before departing for St. Jude’s to begin radiation therapy on January 26, 2023. It is scheduled to continue for six weeks, Monday through Friday. At this point no other treatment is planned due to ongoing health concerns but options are still on the table.
For those who want to keep up with Tate’s story please visit the Facebook page, Tate’s Prayer Page. On it there is a link to a GoFundMe page and other fundraisers listed as well.
There is a checking account at PriorityOne Bank, the Tate Clayburn Fund, opened to receive any contributions to help offset medical expenses. For more information contact Lisa Reed at 601-867-1545.
The Magee Volunteer Fire Department has also planned a chicken plate fundraiser for March 4. For more information on the plate, price and pickup times, contact Kassie Russell Jones at 601-214-2227.“A tragedy will bring you closer to God, but nothing compares to the second go around. We are praying over Tate every night and praying throughout the day. Our families are gathering and praying as well, even with us being here at St. Jude’s. My parents and Jason’s mom have had a very difficult time with it. Tate is the first grandchild on both sides. We are believing God will heal Tate and we know without a doubt God is the ultimate healer.
“We know Tate is in God’s hands!” said Rebecca.
