Community Rallying Around Hackettstown Boy Battling Cancer

HACKETTSTOWN, NJ — Henry Aulenbach woke up on Jan. 5 with a severe headache. After a trip to the emergency room, doctors discovered Aulenbach had a tumor near his brain stem and down his spinal cord.

Aulenbach, from had surgery three days later to remove the tumor and was diagnosed with Medulloblastoma. He is in the middle of a yearlong cycle of chemo and radiation treatments. Aulenbach's dad, David, is principal of Anthony Wayne Middle School.

A fundraiser for the Hackettstown family is Saturday at Wayne Hills High School from 5 to 8 p.m. Donations will be accepted at the door. The suggested donations are $5 for kids and $10 for adults. All proceeds will go the family. There will be food, music, dancing, games, and prizes.

The family has a Facebook page chronicling Aulenbach's progress. The most recent post, on Wednesday, stated that Aulenbach finished his most recent cycle of chemotherapy and might be discharged from the hospital Thursday. A video posted Tuesday shows Aulenbach smiling and playing in his hospital room. They use the hashtag #HopeForHenry in their posts.

Nearly $1,000 people have donated more than $77,000 to the family on a GoFundMe campaign for the family. Another $7,400 was donated on a Giving Grid campaign online.

There is also a Bracelets For Henry fundraiser. Forty percent of sales are being donated to the family.

Reporting by Daniel Hubbard, Patch Staff