(Riverton, WY) – Riverton High School soccer returns home Friday with Star Valley coming to town for a boys and girls varsity double-header.
Friday’s games will be more than just a game for the community. Every year, the Wolverines play for local families going through a tough medical situation.
This year, RHS will play for Madison Belle and Garret Rogers. The Wolverine Soccer Pink Game Facebook page shared more details about both young people.
On June 8, 2015, Madison Belle, the bright-eyed, blonde-haired baby, entered the world and filled the lives of her parents, Hayley and CJ Williams, with joy. Since then, Madison has been a vibrant, spirited girl full of sass. She’s both a little sister and a big sister, taking her roles to heart. But on November 8, 2024, Madison’s life took an unexpected turn. At just 9 years old, she was airlifted to Primary Children’s Hospital, where her family received the heartbreaking news that Madison had been diagnosed with High-Grade Glioma, a form of brain cancer.
Fast forward to her most recent appointment, where the family received news no parent should ever hear. “The cancer has spread, and there are new areas of growth throughout her spine. This complicates everything. Because of its location and size, surgery and further radiation are no longer options. Madison will be taken off the clinical trial and begin a new chemotherapy regimen next week. The devastating truth is that, unless some miraculous breakthrough occurs, this treatment will only prolong the inevitable. As far as ‘time’ goes, it depends on how the tumor responds to the new medication. The words that still echo in our hearts are ‘3 months to maybe a year.’ Our focus now is to make Madison as strong as possible so that she can be at home, where she wants to be, and where we want her to be. We will treasure every single moment, every laugh, every memory, knowing that time is no longer on our side.”
Garret was born on March 10, 2011, in Riverton as the only child of Sheri and Randy Rogers. He’s a caring, funny, and goofy kid who loves to make others laugh. He enjoys riding his dirt bike, working on cars, spending time with family, playing video games, and caring for his three dogs. Garret has always loved animals and enjoys spending time with them. However, in July 2023, after months of struggling with severe headaches, Garret had a stroke. His parents rushed him to the ER, where they learned he’d had a migranous stroke. The ER doctor recommended a follow-up with his pediatrician, who referred him to a neurologist in Salt Lake.
In March 2024, after months of tests and waiting, Garret underwent an MRI, and just six hours later, his family received the devastating news that every parent dreads: Garret had a brain tumor. After numerous trips to Salt Lake City and consultations with multiple specialists, Garret was diagnosed with epilepsy, migranous strokes, and anxiety disorder. A biopsy revealed that the tumor was of a common type, but with a rare mutation found in just 1% of cases. Although surgery to remove the tumor is an option, it would result in significant vision loss and memory impairment, leaving Garret legally blind in both eyes. After much family discussion, they chose to begin chemotherapy to stop the tumor’s growth, with the hope that it will shrink enough to be safely removed in the future.
Garret began oral chemotherapy in November 2024 and will continue the treatment for the next two years. He also takes daily seizure medication and other medications to manage side effects and maintain a tolerable level of pain. Garret’s medical journey involves regular blood work, CT scans, and appointments with his oncologist, pediatrician, epileptic neurologist, and neurosurgeon every four weeks, as well as MRIs every three months. This condition will remain with him for the rest of his life or until the tumor can be safely removed, with no guarantee that his seizures or migraines will cease.
Both Madison and Garret are facing unimaginable challenges, and this year’s fundraising efforts are dedicated to supporting their families during these difficult times. Your generosity will help provide them with the care, comfort, and memories they need as they navigate this journey.
Be sure to like and follow this page over the next few weeks to learn how YOU can help the Wolverines show this family some community support.
On May 2nd, the Wolverines and Lady Wolverines will take the field in honor of Garret and Madison. JV teams will each play at 1:30, Girls Varsity at 3:30 and Boys Varsity at 5:30. The families will be honored between varsity games.
A GoFundMe page has raised over $1,700 for the two families.
There will be several ways to make a contribution for folks attending Friday’s games. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to show their support. For more details on the game and how you can help, follow the Pink Game Facebook page here!