Scattered storms move inland this Wednesday afternoonCollier County Teachers Union to meet and negotiate salaries
THE WEATHER AUTHORITY Scattered storms move inland this Wednesday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking scattered storms moving from the coastal lines and into the inland communities this Wednesday afternoon.
WINK NEWS Collier County Teachers Union to meet and negotiate salaries Collier County teachers brace for their third day of salary negotiations as those living within the area struggle financially.
Police report: witnesses say fatal Firestone tire explosion caused by overinflation The Cape Coral Police Department has released its report regarding a tire explosion that killed a man at a Firestone garage on Sunday.
NAPLES Voters meet with Collier County candidates It was a packed house at Seed to Table on Tuesday night as Collier County voters met with the candidates running to represent them.
FORT MYERS Texas Roadhouse honors memory of five teenagers lost in tragic crash It has been one year since the tragic crash that took the lives of five teenagers on Top Golf Way in Lee County.
CAPE CORAL Locals react to Wade Wilson jury recommendation Wade Wilson, the man found guilty of killing two innocent women, has his life in the hands of a jury and judge. In less than two hours on Tuesday – the jury came to their decision.
FORT MYERS Austan Cristiaan talks joining Bishop Verot and first D-1 offers Quarterback Austan Cristiaan talks about joining Bishop Verot for his freshman season and securing his first two D-1 offers.
FL researchers testing Zika virus to fight childhood brain cancer Neuroblastoma is one of the deadliest childhood cancers. Now, a team of researchers out of Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando are taking a novel approach to wipe out disease. Their studies involve the use of the Zika virus.
FORT MYERS Community Redevelopment Agency seeks public input for Cleveland Avenue project Mayor Kevin Anderson said Tuesday was an opportunity for the Community Redevelopment Agency and leaders to hear what the public thinks this redevelopment should look like.
FGCU professor agrees with US Surgeon General: gun violence is a public health crisis Gun violence: We’ve seen it here firsthand in southwest Florida. Many agree gun violence is a growing problem in the United States. Now, the U.S. Surgeon General is calling it a crisis.
Charlotte County Charlotte County now requiring condo and co-op inspections for building 25-years or older On the 3-year anniversary of the Champlain Towers South building collapse in Surfside, FL, many look to remember those lost and continue to learn from the tragedy.
FORT MYERS A third diamond interchange on its way to Southwest Florida The third iteration of a construction project that strikes fear into some drivers could be a tell-tell sign about the trends of Southwest Florida.
NAPLES Naples practice comes under fire from a former employee A Naples dermatology practice acknowledges it had issues when it first opened two years ago but says those issues are now behind them.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral hosts more FEMA hearings Red tags are rearing their ugly head. Cape Coral homeowners who were slapped with these tags and found non-compliant with city code permits are back to defend themselves.
4 local music shows to choose from in one day If you’re an indecisive local music fan, Friday will be a tough day for you.
THE WEATHER AUTHORITY Scattered storms move inland this Wednesday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking scattered storms moving from the coastal lines and into the inland communities this Wednesday afternoon.
WINK NEWS Collier County Teachers Union to meet and negotiate salaries Collier County teachers brace for their third day of salary negotiations as those living within the area struggle financially.
Police report: witnesses say fatal Firestone tire explosion caused by overinflation The Cape Coral Police Department has released its report regarding a tire explosion that killed a man at a Firestone garage on Sunday.
NAPLES Voters meet with Collier County candidates It was a packed house at Seed to Table on Tuesday night as Collier County voters met with the candidates running to represent them.
FORT MYERS Texas Roadhouse honors memory of five teenagers lost in tragic crash It has been one year since the tragic crash that took the lives of five teenagers on Top Golf Way in Lee County.
CAPE CORAL Locals react to Wade Wilson jury recommendation Wade Wilson, the man found guilty of killing two innocent women, has his life in the hands of a jury and judge. In less than two hours on Tuesday – the jury came to their decision.
FORT MYERS Austan Cristiaan talks joining Bishop Verot and first D-1 offers Quarterback Austan Cristiaan talks about joining Bishop Verot for his freshman season and securing his first two D-1 offers.
FL researchers testing Zika virus to fight childhood brain cancer Neuroblastoma is one of the deadliest childhood cancers. Now, a team of researchers out of Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando are taking a novel approach to wipe out disease. Their studies involve the use of the Zika virus.
FORT MYERS Community Redevelopment Agency seeks public input for Cleveland Avenue project Mayor Kevin Anderson said Tuesday was an opportunity for the Community Redevelopment Agency and leaders to hear what the public thinks this redevelopment should look like.
FGCU professor agrees with US Surgeon General: gun violence is a public health crisis Gun violence: We’ve seen it here firsthand in southwest Florida. Many agree gun violence is a growing problem in the United States. Now, the U.S. Surgeon General is calling it a crisis.
Charlotte County Charlotte County now requiring condo and co-op inspections for building 25-years or older On the 3-year anniversary of the Champlain Towers South building collapse in Surfside, FL, many look to remember those lost and continue to learn from the tragedy.
FORT MYERS A third diamond interchange on its way to Southwest Florida The third iteration of a construction project that strikes fear into some drivers could be a tell-tell sign about the trends of Southwest Florida.
NAPLES Naples practice comes under fire from a former employee A Naples dermatology practice acknowledges it had issues when it first opened two years ago but says those issues are now behind them.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral hosts more FEMA hearings Red tags are rearing their ugly head. Cape Coral homeowners who were slapped with these tags and found non-compliant with city code permits are back to defend themselves.
4 local music shows to choose from in one day If you’re an indecisive local music fan, Friday will be a tough day for you.
A Cape Coral kindergartener is in the fight of his life. His battle with brain cancer and its experimental treatment may help him and others in the future. Just a few months ago, Banyan Hill was enjoying life like any other kid his age. “He’s 6 years old, and he loves to be outside. He was always a very active kid. He likes to fish. He likes soccer,” said his mom, Amanda Powell. When he started limping, his mom took him to a doctor. More visits followed as things got worse. “He had the left leg that he wasn’t able to use, the left arm that he wasn’t able to use, and the left side of his face was drooping. He was drooling,” Powell said. Banyan was admitted to Golisano Children’s Hospital for testing. What they found wasn’t just bad. It was terrible. You can’t do any form of surgery to resect this type of tumor because it’s in such a critical location Dr. Kelly Sawcyzn, pediatric oncologist “He has DIPG brain cancer. It’s a very rare, very aggressive cancer,” Powell said wiping away tears. “DIPG is a specific type of glioblastoma that occurs in the brainstem, which is the part of the brain that controls your essential breathing center, your heart rate control of all the essential functions that keep us alive,” explained Dr. Kelly Sawcyzn. Sawczyn is a pediatric oncologist and part of Banyan’s care team. “What’s most problematic about this particular tumor is its location,” said Sawczyn, “because you can’t do any form of surgery to resect this type of tumor because it’s in such a critical location.” The cancer grew like a weed in just a few weeks. With treatment and luck, life expectancy may be up to two years. Even with standard radiation, DIPG tumors continue to grow. Between 150 and 300 cases are diagnosed each year in the U.S. because doctors can’t even biopsy the brain stem, the cancer is mostly studied after death, but Banyan’s case has a slight deviation that offers a sliver of hope. “Part of his tumor actually extended a little bit beyond that brainstem, so he was able to have a biopsy done,” Sawcyzn said, “so we are learning something from him, and that may benefit him and other patients in the future.” So in addition to radiation, Banyan takes a daily chemo pill. Lee Health’s Children’s Oncology Group matched him to a clinical trial. While his friends from school wrapped his room with well-wishes, he is back in the hospital. The treatments are tough, but he is also a tough little boy. “We talked about when enough is going to be enough with him,” his mom said, “because that’s something that we have to think about.” For now, they are circling him with love. “We’re hoping for a miracle,” Powell said. As doctors learn more about this cancer, Banyan is teaching those around him a lesson in life. Banyan is one of four kids in the family. His parents are juggling caring for them along with tending to him. They have also battled their insurance company to cover the cost of treatment. Since we shot this story, family members have told WINK News that treatment has not been successful, so they are removing him from medical therapies and taking him home for hospice care.