Fundraiser Slated For Family of Boy, 7, Who Died of Brain Tumor

EAST HAVEN, CT — A fundraiser to help defray the enormous medical bills compiled by the family of Trenton O'Brien, the 7-year-old who courageously battled a brain tumor for many months before passing away, has been scheduled.

The event will be at Bar 80 on Foxon Road in North Branford from 1-4 p.m. on Sunday, February 9th. The rain date is the following Sunday, February 16th.

Tickets are $20 and are available for purchase at Bar 80, including at the door, and Rossitto's Ristorante in Branford. Food will be provided along with live entertainment from L&M Express.

One hundred percent of the proceeds will be donated to the O'Brien family. If you would like to simply make a monetary donation, please send to Tonya-Graziano @Tonya-Graziano.

Besides the Bar 80 fundraiser, the East Haven hockey team asked everyone to wear yellow to its January 18th game against Guilford - to honor Trenton. Donations were accepted at the game.

Trenton, a Momauguin Elementary School student was found last summer to have an inoperable cancerous tumor on his brain stem, known as a diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma or DIPG.

There was an outpouring of love and support for the boy and his family.

East Haven Public Schools asked faculty, staff, and students to wear yellow and donate $1 as a show of support on Jan, 2. That day, the town — from firehouses to schools, town hall to local businesses —came together to raise awareness about the disease.

East Haven Mayor Joseph Carfora declared Jan. 2, 2020 Trenton Day in East Haven.

An aggressive tumor that progresses very quickly, he endured arduous treatments: he was fitted with a pinpoint radiation mask, a procedure where he had a saturated, thick fishnet-like-plastic sheet draped over his face, while it was still wet, and bolted it to the table he laid upon. He had to lay there for 10 minutes for it to dry and mold custom to his face. A MRI was taken of his brain while the masked cured, so that a 3D map could be made. This map allows for the radiation to be focused onto specific small areas and concentrated levels.

Trenton then underwent a seven-days-a-week, five week radiation treatment.

And he just kept fighting.

A Memorial Mass for Trenton will be celebrated in the Parish of St. Pio of Petrelcina at St. Vincent dePaul Church, Taylor Ave., on Monday, January 20, 2020 at 11 a.m. Calling hours took place at the East Haven Memorial Longobardi – Brennan Funeral Home, 425 Main St., East Haven, 203-467-1708 on Saturday afternoon, January 18.

Burial will be private.

-- Ellyn Santiago contributed to this story