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Michael's Master Plan Fund Supporting Gift from a Child

A personal campaign sponsored by Michael’s Master Plan Fund

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Gift from a Child is a national initiative supported by families who have lost children to brain cancer, private foundations, researchers and medical professionals.Gift from a Child’s mission is to increase post-mortem pediatric brain tissue donations through advocacy as well as the education of families enduring the worst … the loss of a child. We have formed partnerships with the best researchers and medical providers who value information and data sharing. These strategic partnerships will accelerate breakthrough cancer research, improve treatments and ultimately CURE childhood brain cancer.



 Michael’s Master Plan

Michael Gustafson was nearing his 15th birthday when he knew he wasn’t going to survive his brain cancer. So, he came up with what he called his “Master Plan”. It was his idea to be a tissue donor or as he put it, “I’m going to give up my life in order to see if we can find a cure.”  His decision to donate his brain and spine to research gave him peace and purpose at the end of his life. While waiting in a restaurant parking lot that night, Michael’s mom recorded him talking about his “Master Plan” (see video below).


Michael's Master Plan has grown into Gift from a Child.

Hundreds of families have been supported through the program. Researchers are making advances, in part, because of the precious gift of tissue. We still have far to go, each day we are closer to realizing Mikey's wish that no child should have to endure what he had endured.