West Fargo junior dies after cancer battle

WEST FARGO - Ian Alves, a West Fargo High School junior battling terminal cancer, has died.

Ian's mother, Lise Alves, reported the news on her son's CaringBridge web page.

He died about 8:45 a.m. at Sanford hospital in Fargo, his mother said.

"This morning, Ian went peacefully into the arms of his Savior. Until his last moment on the Earth, he was in the arms of Lise. (His older brother) Sean was chillin' next to him. Sampson the family dog was curled up at his side. All the family was there. He just drifted off quietly.

"We are all of course very sad. We shall miss him, but we rejoice in the sure conviction that we will see him again and enjoy his love and our God forever," Lise Alves wrote on the site.

Ian had been fighting two aggressive forms of cancer for the past 18 months.

He had undergone two major operations to remove tumors caused by desmoplastic small round cell tumor, plus rounds of radiation and chemotherapy.

He had also developed acute myeloid leukemia, a fast-growing cancer of the blood and bone marrow.

The whipsaw of competing treatments for the cancers had left Ian drained and his body damaged, Lise Alves told The Forum in October.

Despite all the treatments, the DSRCT continued to spread.

Ian's father died of brain cancer six and a half years ago.

Lise Alves said her son decided to end the treatments.

"He said, 'Mom, I'm going home to see Jesus and to see dad." Lise Alves said in October.

In this morning's CaringBridge post, Lise Alves thanked everyone for their prayers and acts of kindness.

"We are especially grateful for the passion and compassion of all the doctors, nurses, and other medical folks here in Fargo and down at Mayo (Clinic in Rochester, Minn.) Your efforts helped us enjoy Ian for many more months and when his time came, you placed your arms around us," Lise Alves wrote.

She said plans are now being made to celebrate Ian's life.