Jackson and Toby are both 9 years old. They are connected through their brother, Trent Berry, who taught them to play sports. But playing basketball and soccer hasn’t been the same since they lost Trent in February of last year.

“This is the sweatshirt that I used to wear. Whenever you hold it, know that I am here, love Trent,” read Toby.

Trent had been experiencing headaches, facial paralysis and difficulties speaking. As his symptoms progressed, his family knew something serious was wrong. In May 2020, he was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme, a very aggressive form of brain cancer.

“Trent was a really quiet, passive, but passionate, person and anything he put his mind to anything he did, he succeeded,” said Trent’s mother Kate Zarichny. “He was just genuinely a good person. A people-pleaser, he would just reach out to everybody and help anybody. It didn’t matter what was going on in his own life. Even through his illness, he was cheering up his friends. He just kind of took this cancer journey as it was. It was what it was and he just fought.”

It’s estimated that about 13,000 people will be diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme this year alone. The typical survival rate is within two years of diagnosis.

Trent was studying political science at SUNY Oswego and worked at Mimi’s Drive-In when he was diagnosed.

Before he died, Trent wanted to donate his brain and tumors for research. His mother fulfilled that wish through the Gift from a Child pediatric brain cancer research initiative and donated his brain to Weill Cornell in New York City.

His family will be notified if he’s used in any research, finding or paper.

“He was hoping to save somebody from this battle and having to go through it again,” said Kate.