Children’s Harbor creates joyful moments for Theodore Dabon II and his family.
Eight-year-old Theodore Dabon II has a big smile on his face nearly all the time, says his mother, Ebony Dabon. He smiles when he plays with his family and pet poodle at home in Pinson, Alabama. He smiles thinking about what he wants to do when he grows up, which includes building cars and becoming a millionaire. He even flashes some grins when he has to come to the hospital—something that occurs frequently following a brain tumor diagnosis in 2023. “He is so brave and strong,” Ebony says. “I know he hurts deep down, but he is handling it so well.”
Children’s Harbor helps Theodore beam brightly during those tough times. Ebony says the family first heard about Children’s Harbor during her son’s initial hospitalization, and since then, it has “played a significant role in our lives.” Theodore and his family often visited the Harbor Family Center when he could leave his room, and he continues to receive counseling to help him cope with his diagnosis and its impact on his life. Theodore’s younger sister, Elise, also receives services and enjoys coming to the Harbor Family Center. Ebony praises the Children’s Harbor staff for being helpful throughout the family’s medical journey, which she describes as overwhelming. Theodore’s tumor is a craniopharyngioma affecting the pituitary gland critical to the body’s endocrine system. For the Dabons, that means a lot of uncertainty about how the tumor could affect Theodore, as well as constant doctor visits. Fortunately, he hasn’t experienced major complications so far, Ebony says.
Last November, Theodore participated in Champions for Our Children, the partnership between Children’s Harbor and UAB Football that includes a special game with players wearing jerseys featuring the names of seriously ill children. “Theodore had the absolute best time ever,” and especially enjoyed touring the UAB Blazers locker room and meeting head coach Trent Dilfer at a press conference, Ebony recalls. He also loved spending time on the practice field with UAB running back Isaiah Jacobs, who wore Theodore’s jersey on game day. “Isaiah took so much time engaging with Theodore,” Ebony says. “You could tell he really is passionate about helping others.” In fact, all the players seemed to be having as much fun as the children, she adds.
Ebony says she and her husband saw joy on Theodore’s face—and the faces of all the other
children who were part of Champions for Our Children. She explains that Theodore used to play
tackle football but had to stop after his cancer diagnosis, “so this entire experience was everything
to him. It literally brought tears to our eyes.”
Edited by Charles Buchanan
