Summer was diagnosed with leukemia on December 21, 2017. Leading up to her diagnosis, her family noticed swollen lymph nodes, pale skin, night sweats, petechiae, trouble sleeping, a loss of appetite, and an overall sense that something just wasn’t right.
Throughout her treatment, Summer endured chemotherapy, spinal taps, port placement surgery, and later, port removal. The journey wasn’t just physically difficult—it also left lasting emotional effects. Her family continues to cope with anxiety and PTSD, shaped by the trauma of watching their child fight through such a terrifying illness. Every germ or virus during treatment felt like a new threat, heightening their fear due to her compromised immune system.
Despite these challenges, Summer’s spirit has always shone brightly. She is full of life and joy. If her parents had to choose just one word to describe her, it would be “fun.” Summer is sweet, loving, funny, a great conversationalist, and the kind of friend everyone hopes to have. She is their sunshine.
She has a deep love for animals and enjoys reading and researching them. She also loves Pokémon and playing piano or keyboard.
Now, after all she has faced, Summer is approaching an incredible milestone. On February 19, 2025, she will be officially considered cured. Her family is celebrating this moment with a trip to Florida, a symbol of hope, healing, and how far she has come.
Summer’s story is one of resilience, joy, and unwavering strength. She inspires everyone around her, and her light continues to shine brighter each day.
On December 20, 2022, Allen Owens, affectionately known as Big Al, was diagnosed with B Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at just 17 months old. That same day, Allen and his parents were transported to St. Jude in Memphis while his older sister, age 7, and brother, age 4, remained in Louisiana.
Allen lived at St. Jude for six months. During that time, he underwent surgery, numerous procedures, and countless doctor’s appointments. He has had many lumbar punctures with chemotherapy infused into his spine, received multiple chemo infusions, and continues to take daily oral chemotherapy.
Today, he is back home in Louisiana and continues weekly treatments with chemo on Tuesdays. Through it all, the biggest challenge for his family has been financial, but their gratitude for time together has only grown stronger.
Big Al is the youngest of five and is truly an amazing little guy. He loves motorcycles, Bluey, monster trucks, baseball, and chocolate milk. With a sweet yet spunky personality, his family affectionately calls him their little sour patch kid. He has shown incredible strength and courage for someone so young.
God has been gracious to Allen, and his family is so proud of how far he has come. They are joyfully counting down the days until August 2025 when Allen will ring the bell, surrounded by friends and family who have supported him throughout his journey.
On December 28, 2023, Brynn’s world changed forever. What started as a stubborn case of the flu over her birthday lingered far too long. Her birthday felt miserable, and Christmas came and went without joy. A few days later, her dad took her to the doctor and insisted on bloodwork. That persistence may have saved her life. Just a few hours after the tests, her family received the news no parent ever expects—Brynn was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
Since then, Brynn has faced an incredibly tough road. Her treatment has included blood and platelet transfusions, kidney failure, steroid-induced hyperglycemia, anaphylactic reactions, sepsis, bacterial infections, hair loss, countless medications, and months spent in the hospital. Some days she feels good, while others she can barely walk. The intensity of treatment changes day by day.
Cancer has completely reshaped life for Brynn and her family. Travel is nearly impossible, and even simple joys like going swimming, digging in the dirt, or joining friends at a birthday party have been taken off the table. While her friends head to the pool, Brynn has to sit it out. She’s aware of how different her life is now. Her short hair, frequent absences from school, and the special medical equipment she carries make her feel like other kids see her differently—and that feeling hurts.
But despite everything she’s been through, Brynn is still just a kid who wants to do all the things other kids do. She loves the outdoors—fishing, camping, anything that gets her into nature. Those things are tough right now, but her family finds ways to adapt and make the most of it. More than anything, she just wants to be with her friends, laugh, and feel included.
Through it all, Brynn has shown incredible strength and courage. She is navigating a world that has changed overnight, with the heart of a fighter and the soul of a joyful, adventurous little girl.
Tadeo was diagnosed with cancer on November 3rd, 2024, after experiencing what seemed like a simple stomach ache and fever. His family never expected those symptoms to lead to such a life-changing diagnosis.
Since then, Tadeo has undergone chemotherapy and faced the challenges that come with treatment. While he hasn’t had any major physical limitations, his diagnosis has completely reshaped his family’s daily life and routines. It’s been a tough adjustment, but they’ve walked through it together, with love and resilience.
Despite everything, Tadeo is still the bright, joyful child he’s always been. He’s incredibly intelligent, full of energy, and always ready to laugh. He loves running, jumping, and playing soccer with his team. Those moments of movement and fun are when he feels most like himself. His sense of humor and vibrant spirit continue to shine through even the hardest days.
Tadeo is more than a fighter, he’s a joyful light to everyone around him.
Ava was diagnosed with leukemia in August 2023. In the weeks leading up to her diagnosis, she was unusually fatigued, developed unexplained bruising, and didn’t want to walk—symptoms that quickly became serious indicators of something much bigger.
Since then, Ava has been undergoing chemotherapy. Unfortunately, her journey has come with added complications: a recent biopsy revealed a clone that could make her resistant to treatment, along with abnormalities in her myeloid cells. Another biopsy is underway to reassess her condition, and her care team is awaiting results from a specialized myeloid panel to determine the next steps.
Ava’s diagnosis has reshaped life for her entire family. Social events and vacations have been put on hold to protect her from illness, and collision activities like soccer or gym are off-limits due to dangerously low platelet counts. Like many families walking this road, they’ve also faced mental health challenges and now rely on therapy and psychiatry to help navigate the emotional toll.
But despite it all, Ava is such a bright, imaginative, and loving child. She lights up at the chance to do crafts or dive into pretend play. She adores helping with her baby sister and is currently obsessed with dinosaurs. Her gentle, curious spirit shines through even during the hardest moments.
Her family wants others to know how important the bone marrow registry is—not only for Ava but for countless kids like her. Signing up could truly save a life.
Ava was just 15 months old when she suddenly stopped walking and refused to use her right leg. Her parents spent weeks searching for answers, visiting doctors, urgent care, and the ER before her pediatrician finally ordered a blood test. Within hours, their world changed—Ava was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia, high-risk B-type. She was immediately hospitalized for 34 days.
Now two years old, Ava has endured nine months of intense chemotherapy, spinal chemotherapy, bone marrow biopsies, blood transfusions, and multiple hospital stays. She just began the maintenance phase of treatment, a huge milestone in her fight. Through it all, she remains a happy, strong, and lovable little girl who adores all things pink, singing, dancing, and watching Ms. Rachel.
Cancer has changed life for Ava and her entire family. Her days have revolved around clinic visits, daily medications, and long hospital stays, with doctors and nurses becoming her closest friends. Her three-year-old brother has had to put preschool and activities on hold to protect Ava’s health, and the family has spent most of the past year at home, limiting travel and outings.
Despite everything, Ava’s joyful spirit shines. Her parents hope to capture this chapter of her journey—especially now, as she recently lost her hair. They want to celebrate her strength, resilience, and the love that surrounds her as she continues to fight. Ava is lucky to have received exceptional care, and her family hopes the same for all children facing this battle.
