Community steps up for Utah family after boy's cancer diagnosis, house fire


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SALT LAKE CITY — He's only 15 months old, but Stetson Larsen has already been through a lot.

"It's challenging. It's definitely been a life changer," his mother Rachelle Larsen said Monday while discussing the months of treatment her son has undergone for medulloblastoma.

Doctors found a tumor the size of a tangerine in Stetson's brain when he was 8 months old. The tumor was surgically removed, and now the toddler is going through chemotherapy and radiation.

"He actually does pretty good," his mother said. "All the doctors and nurses have been really impressed with how Stetson handles things."

Through it all, Larsen and her husband, Dusty, say they have built incredible friendships with the parents of other children with cancer. They've also experienced tremendous support from family, friends and even people they've never met.

"They've just all come together, and it's really awesome to see that just one little family can do that to a community — that they bond together and help," Rachelle Larsen said.

That diverse support system stepped up again after a Nov. 18 chimney fire gutted the family's Duchesne County house while Rachelle Larsen and Stetson were staying in Salt Lake for treatment.


He actually does pretty good. All the doctors and nurses have been really impressed with how Stetson handles things.

–Rachelle Larsen, mother


"The roof around the chimney was glowing," said Dusty Larsen, who tried to put out the fire on his own before calling for help and trying to save whatever personal items he could.

"I tried to get some of the stuff out, and I didn't do a very good job," Larsen said. "It's just amazing how — when you have something like that going on — how fast your mind goes and you can't get anything done."

The fire destroyed many of the family's belongings, and they didn't have insurance.

"They wouldn't let us because I put that darned wood stove in there, so they wouldn't let us have home insurance," Dusty Larsen said.

So people from all over Utah are reaching out once more to help Stetson and his parents, showing them again just how much they are loved. A family friend has offered to let them live in a house he owns until the Larsens can find a place of their own. Other community members have begun collecting household items and clothing for the family.

"It's amazing how much love there is out there," Dusty Larsen said. "From all walks of life, from a lot of people, there's just a lot of good out there."

An online donation account was set up for the family after the fire. The Stetson Kendall Larsen account had been established at Wells Fargo Bank before the fire to help offset some of the expenses associated with Stetson's treatment. The family also has a Facebook page for Stetson. *- - - - - -

*KSL.com has not verified the accuracy of the information provided with respect to the account nor does KSL.com assure that the monies deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account you should consult your own advisors and otherwise proceed at your own risk.*

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Geoff Liesik

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