Clay County teen with stage 4 brain cancer graduates high school

CLAY COUNTY, Fla. — Story published 6/2/19:

On Friday, May 31, 18-year-old Trevor Gilbert, a Clay High School senior, walked across the stage to get his high school diploma.

“I was happy to be up there,” said Gilbert.

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The teen has a very aggressive form of brain cancer called medulloblastoma. It's a type of cancerous brain tumor mostly found in young children.

Gilbert was diagnosed when he was 14 years old, and after he went into remission the first time around, he was told he would have to do routine MRIs to help screen for any recurrence.

“In October, it was clean as a bell, and we come in February, and there’s a tumor about the size of a dime,” he said.

Gilbert says he had no signs or symptoms.

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“I think it was more of a shock to me than the first time because the first time I didn’t really know how to take it, and I was just like, 'OK, let's beat it just like any other disease,” he said.

Now he’s back in and out of hospitals battling stage 4 brain cancer.

“They’ve been giving me more aggressive drugs than the first time,” he said.

Gilbert told Action News Jax he had two goals after being diagnosed, he said he wanted to go to prom and he also wanted to graduate, and on Saturday, he celebrated that milestone with his family.

“This represents a lot of accomplishment,” said his mother, Kimberly Herbert, as she held up his diploma.

She said when her son walked across the stage, she cried.

“I did, I cried. It was just a proud moment. Very proud,” Herbert said.

Gilbert also got to go to prom, too.

Herbert and Gilbert even created a Facebook page, "#TeamTrevor," with over 1,600 followers and support pouring in from around the world.

They post updates and talk about Trevor’s journey.

Two weeks ago, he pushed himself to go to his senior band banquet.

After graduating Gilbert says he would like to either go to University of North Florida or University of Florida to become a nurse and study oncology after going through what he’s experienced.

The teen told Action News Jax he hopes his story will inspire others going through the same thing- to push themselves a little more each day.

“You don’t want to do too much but you need to put forth a little effort because you’ll thank yourself for it later down the line,” said Gilbert.

Gilbert was put in a clinical trial back in March and will now finish two more cycles of chemotherapy in June.

In July, he will undergo a stem cell transplant.

Cox Media Group