About Us

Brain cancer is a disease that attacks the mind and body of not only it's victims but, their loved ones as well. Like any terminal disease, when it strikes your life changes in an instant. Brain cancer strips you of your life as you know it and at this time ,your well being depends on the love and support of your love ones. This disease is blind to race, social and financial status. It has claimed the lives of the rich and famous, who can afford the best medical care and of the middle class and poor who can not. Brain cancer inevitably changes the lives of everyone that it touches.

Aaron Catrell Watson was a loving son, husband and brother with a family that gave him their all until his last dying day. Aaron and his older sister Ava were raised by their father, Paul Watson, a single struggling parent who's loved out-weighed all tangible riches. Below is the story of this fatherly hero, the love he has for his son and the hardship that he and his family endured due to Aaron's battle with Brain cancer. This story derived from an email sent from Paul Watson to Dr. Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa after Aaron's death. It is not meant to sadden, but to inspire hope that one day the disease of brain cancer will be cured.

A story of the power of love

Dr. Q,

I don't really know how to begin so I'll just start. As you can imagine this has been one of the roughest times in my life. I really do miss my son. In his last week on this earth with us I would lay beside him and talk. Sometimes not knowing what to say, other than, I love you and I will see you again.

It was an honor and a gift from God to be his father. I told Aaron and my family that his death would change each of us, not really knowing how or to what degree. I promised him that his death would not be in vain, nor would he be forgotten. It wasn't until you called me to express your sorrow, and said that my son should not have died that I realized what that promise meant.

You asked me if I would speak to other Doctors on some Friday evenings, that is the very least I'm willing to do on behalf of my son. I have many sleepless nights since Aaron's passing. I spend a lot of time thinking and researching the many different ways that I can honor Aaron and save another parent from the same pain that I have.

Please, correct me if I'm wrong but, less money goes to brain cancer research, than any of the other forms of cancer. You know the stats better than me but I want to help change this. There has been an out pour of concern and a heighten awareness of this disease from everyone that knew Aaron in life or death. There are so many people that I have spoken to that are more than willing to join both Ava and I in raising money for research.

I truly believe that God has put this in front of us. Ava and I are going to start a brain cancer foundation in Aaron's name. We need your knowledge and passion to make this foundation effective in raising funds for the much needed research to help stop this dreaded disease.

My son and I trusted you with his life. We respect you first as a person then as a doctor and we love you as both. Thank you for all that you have done.

Paul Watson

A story that explains the effects of brain cancer on the family.

Dr. Q,

I want to tell you a little more about where I am in my life. I am striving to achieve something worth leaving behind. I have always run into obstacles and road blocks and have always pushed my way through to accomplish my goals. I've had many failures in my life as well. One of the lesson's I learned in this life is that, "it's not how hard you fall, but how high you bounce back".

Raising two children alone in this world has been one of my greatest challenges. The secret is to keep pushing forward, only turning around to look back to see the mistakes you made, and how to improve and to do it better the next time. When Aaron was diagnosed on Nov. 17, 2006 with a brain tumor, I knew that he may not live too much longer. I decided then to bring my son home with me and give him all the attention he needed and to be responsible for his care.

At that time, Aaron didn't have any health insurance. So, I went to the college that he had planned on attending and spoke with the Dean of Admissions and I shared with him all about Aaron's the circumstances. He enrolled Aaron so that he could be placed on his mother health insurance as a student. Even with that help, there was still a lot of out of pocket expenses, of which I handled by myself. I also had Ashley with me to help with Aaron's care. Her job was to make sure his med's were taken on time.

Aaron had just left my home in August, 2006. I was just starting to rebuild my life, and my career, everything was good. No more money problems and life was great. I was able to take Ava and Aaron on our first and last vacation together as a family. Then, my son got sick.

I wasn't able to work; time didn't allow me to give my clients the attention they needed. My savings and investments were exhausted and faced with expenses and no money; I turned to some of my clients for assistance. They were able to support me for several months. Then in Nov. 2007 we realized that Aaron wasn't going to make it. Ava suggested that I move out of my apartment to live with her and her family, which I did. So that we could spend every waking moment with Aaron until he left us.

I just went back to work about a month ago. My office is in Leesburg, VA which I drive to everyday. It's a nice drive; I could see the mountains, the beautiful sky God's entire gift's to us. This gave me the time to reflect on my life, and what God would like for me to do with my remaining years. I believe with all of my heart that this foundation is the path that I am meant to follow.

I purchased a new car in Oct. 2006 with a substantial down payment and my plans where to pay it off with cash in a few months. I always preached to my clients about having cash reserves and I'm glad that I had listened to myself. If not I wouldn't have been able to take care of Aaron and Ashley in the beginning of his battle.

After the money ran out there was no way to pay for the car so I lost it among many other things. I am going to have to start my life over but, I would loose it all again for my son. My vision for the foundation, as we've discussed before is to make it in the top 2%. This can and will be done, if we all do what it takes to push it to the top.

Thank you for believing that we can achieve our mission. Secondly, thank you for believing and trusting us. Which to me is the most important ingredient in a partnership? I'm telling you today, as I have before with the right strategies and the commitment to succeed, I pray this foundation will bring us the fulfillment in life that we all are looking for by finding a cure for brain cancer. Ava and I will give this 110%.

Regards,

Paul

Below is an letter that was sent to Paul Watson from Dr. Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa.

Paul,

The older I get the more I realize that I can not do this alone. Moments like this make me realize the important contributions that we need to make to better care for patients that are afflicted by this devastating disease.

Although it is exciting and fascinating what I do as a brain surgeon, I have for a long time been envisioning the possibilities of there being more optimal ways to treat brain tumors with the benefit of better outcomes.

I am absolutely committed to making this a priority in the years to come. I refuse to believe that there is nothing we can do to cure patients with brain cancer and I will work endlessly to try to find a cure and make this a chronic rather than a devastating lethal disease.

As you can see from my prior experiences; I am not someone who shies away from challenges and obstacles, but rather one who tackles them.

I thank you, Aaron, your family, my wife, children, family, patients, friends, and colleagues for all your support.

With warm wishes,

AQH

Brain Cancer Research for a Cure Foundation is in the process of becoming an IRS approved 501(c)(3) nonprofit, an exempt charitable organization, donations to which are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.