8th Grader’s Cancer Fight Rallies Basking Ridge Community

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — For the past year, 8th grader Eli Chen has endured eight cycles of chemotherapy, two surgeries, 28 radiation treatments, and even a trial radiation effort in his fight against a very rare cancer, called Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumors (DSRCT).

Throughout it all, the William Annin Middle School student remains positive and an inspiration to those around him.

"He doesn't complain about anything and he has been through so much," said Eli’s mother Kristi Chen. "Eli is amazing."

"He is so strong and so amazing. He never asks 'Why me?' or says 'It's not fair'," said Kristi's close friend Pamela Haviland.

Eli’s journey began in Uganda. He was adopted by Kristi and Alvin right before his 4th birthday.

"He came here not knowing any English. Since he has been here he has had such a zest for information and life. He still approaches everything like it is the first time he has ever seen it," said Kristi.

Coming to America was very overstimulating for Eli, who Kristi said couldn’t stay still. The one thing that helped was his love for fishing.

"The first time he went fishing he could only handle the line, not the pole. He kept putting the worms on it and dipping it in the water and he would just do it for hours. It was a comfort for him," said Kristi.

"Still to this day he will go to a pond and find a piece of string and maybe a giant bug and catch fish that way. He is so incredibly resourceful," said Kristi.

It’s only fitting that Eli’s one wish when he is done with treatment is to go fishing. The Make-A-Wish foundation is granting Eli’s wish to go fishing for Red Snapper in Florida in June when he is done.

His cancer journey began after his diagnosis on Dec. 20, 2021, when Eli, who was 13 at the time, went to the school nurse complaining that his abdomen hurt. It was initially thought to be linked to his appendix.

Kristi rushed Eli to the Morristown Medical Center where they did an ultrasound, checked his appendix, and did blood work.

It was determined he had metastasized cancer. Doctors found a tumor that led from his prostate all the way up to and including his diaphragm.

"They said it was the biggest one they had ever seen. It was the size of a 2-liter bottle. It went up his entire abdomen," said Kristi.

Eli’s cancer Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumors (DSRCT) is extremely rare. Some reports say that only about 200 cases of DSRCT have been recorded since the cancer was first described in 1989, according to cancer.gov.

Treatments immediately began and Eli continued school from home through Zoom for the remainder of the year.

He was able to return to the classroom this school year but is continuing with radiation treatment. He has to be picked up early from school since he is now back on chemotherapy where he goes five days a week every other week until June 23.

The back-and-forth trips to the hospital and treatments have weighed on the Chen family. That’s when Haviland stepped in and set up a Meal Train.

"The Meal Train is so helpful because they also have three young children at home," said Haviland. "I know that when my husband went through his treatments, just knowing dinner would be waiting on the doorstep was a relief… To have something homecooked and not Panera."

"We are so incredibly grateful," said Kristi to the community. "I’m with Eli and my husband is trying to hold down the fort at home. We are incredibly grateful."

To donate to the Meal Train or for more information visit mealtrain.com/trains/403gv7.

Have a news tip? Email [email protected].