Thursday, October 1, 2026
Austin Neugeboren, an 11-year-old from Atlantic Beach, greets the world with a contagious smile and a quick joke, even as he has spent the past 18 months undergoing treatment for recurrent brain cancer.
Austin, who uses a wheelchair, was first diagnosed with cancer in February 2025, after doctors at NYU Langone Hospital-Long Island in Mineola discovered a “plum-sized” mass on his brain. The following month, he underwent surgery to remove the Grade 4 glioblastoma, followed by several rounds of chemotherapy and radiation at NYU Langone.
Austin’s cancer returned nearly a year later, on Jan. 11, when doctors discovered tumor progression after he suffered a seizure in the bathroom of his home — and since then, Brian Neugeboren, Austin’s father, said it’s been a constant battle.
After completing a “washout period” — a temporary pause in his treatments and medications — Austin began using a trial drug through Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. But after seven weeks of cycles of chemotherapy, infusions and the drug, he experienced a setback.
On April 1 , Austin underwent another surgery at NYU Langone, this time to insert a shunt — a small tube used to redirect cerebrospinal fluid away from his brain. His father said that’s when Austin’s mobility became a challenge, noting that his son began having difficulty moving his left side, and eventually his right.
It was then that Austin required a wheelchair.
“He has sensation everywhere,” his father said, noting that Austin spends most days in the living room in a recliner, and will ask for help bending a knee or straightening a leg. “He can’t do the things he loves, like playing with Legos or his phone. It’s frustrating.”
In May, Austin completed a 10-day course of high-dose radiation and underwent an infusion every three weeks. He also was approved for a Bristol Myers Squibb clinical trial, using a new drug called Navlimetostat, which would help target the DNA marker, MTAP, an enzyme that helps cells recycle vital nutrients — currently lacking in Austin.
Despite his condition, Austin still finds ways to smile — often with visitors around him.
Sam Pinto, a Long Beach resident, said his family and the Neugeborens met seven years ago. Since then, they’ve come together for family events on numerous occasions and treat one another like extended family.
Pinto, 42, whose son, Dylan, 11, is friends with Austin, said they spend time looking through Austin’s Pokémon card collection, and often watch sports broadcasts together. Despite Austin’s limited mobility, Pinto said, he continues to maintain a positive outlook.
“When he’s surrounded by his friends,” Pinto said, “Austin elevates the room in a cheerful way, cracking jokes, enjoying all the stuff that he enjoyed before, and we know how important that is as he continues his fight.”
From Aug. 6 to 12, Austin attended Sunrise Day Camp in Wyandanch for children with cancer, immersing himself in activities like obstacle courses, swimming, taking a train ride, and attending a STEAM lab.
Deanna Slade, Sunrise’s director and vice president of camping and related services, said Austin always came back with a smile and a few jokes.
“After the first day,” Slade said, “Brian and (his wife) Yim, were like, ‘This might be his only day.’ And the fact that he wanted to come back every day was incredible. It made our care team happy for him to do all his favorite activities.”
While Austin’s MRI results in June and July showed signs of improvement, according to his father, there is more work to be done. On Aug. 21, he and Austin met with NYU Langone’s Rusk Rehabilitation unit, which provides services to improve mobility and function in patients with spinal injuries.
“We know the reality of this disease, but statistics don’t get to tell us Austin’s story,” Brian Neugeboren said. “We’re incredibly grateful for every day we have with him, and we’re looking forward.”
The Neugeborens said their next goal is to see Austin being able to walk on his own.
To offset the cost of Austin’s treatments, a Venmo account has been set up. Those who are interested can send donations to Austin-Fundraiser-2026.
