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Sam Levine

Sam was born April 11, 2006 but did not join this world alone, arriving with his twin sister Leah to join their mom Kara and dad Steve.  Sam has always been a people person.  He loves meeting new people and spending time with friends and family. Aside from being with his friends, Sam is passionate about watching and playing sports. As ayoung child he played soccer, basketball, baseball and lacrosse. By high school he focused solely on lacrosse and was named team captain his senior year. Unfortunately much of his senior season was plagued by "odd" symptoms that limited his play.

One word that would describe Sam is tenacious.  In school he earned all "A's and was known as one of the hardest and most diligent workers.  In sports Sam was never the biggest or the fastest, but he compensated by being one of the hardest working and most cerebral players on the field. This trait has served him well in his battle against DIPG.  He remains committed to a ketogenic diet and daily exercise.Even while hospitalized this summer for treatment, Sam amazed his nurses and caregivers by walking two miles each day on the hospital floor and biking on an exercise bike for 20 minutes.

Besides sports, Sam also enjoys hiking and spending time in the outdoors.  Some of his favorite vacations have been trips out west to visit the national parks or to ski.  Sam is an excellent skier and refined his skills by watching YouTube Videos which again shows his determination to learn, compete and succeed.  

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Diagnosis 

The Levine family had never heard of DIPG prior to May 2, 2024. In the spring of 2024, Sam was experiencing left-sided weakness and had some difficulty talking/articulating. His parents took him to a number of doctors and specialists who all assured us that he was fine.  

As his symptoms progressed, Kara and Steve started getting calls and emails from concerned teachers, Sam's friends, and even a friend's parent, which prompted the ER trip that forever changed their lives.  

Sam's base of care is at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, but since his diagnosis, his family has greatly expanded his care team. They now have an oncologist in Michigan, a naturapath in Cleveland, and an integrative oncologist in Texas. Their family has chosen to embrace not only traditional medicine but also many alternative practices to best help Sam fight this tumor and heal his body.  

Sam feels lucky to have a vast array of friends and family that have been by his side since his diagnosis. Aside from their nuclear family, Sam is very close with all six of his grandparents. Additionally, one of his first cousin's, Jackson, lives nearby and often visits to watch sports, play video games, or have dinner. Sam is also blessed to have a large extended family that he sees often, not just for special occasions. This extended support 

system has been a critical part of the Levine's family's journey to find Sam the best treatment options. â€‹

Sam is a determined and hardworking young man who is determined to live his best life despite the challenges that come along with a DIPG diagnosis and the Archer Foundation 

is proud to join his family in their belief that there are many more good days ahead.  

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