Alexis Runyen

Age: 11 • Diagnosis: Stage 4 Wilm’s Tumor • Date of Diagnosis: 1/05/2017

Lexi gained her wings, July 2019, after 3 years of fighting kidney Cancer.

Throughout her battle with cancer she remained positive and lifted others up around her.

Piper Irias

Age: 2 • Diagnosis: Stage 4 Neuroblastoma • Date of Diagnosis: 05/17/19

Meet Piper, a feisty, red-headed two-year-old. This past spring, her mother noticed she was limping. She took Piper to the doctor, who then sent her to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). On May 16, 2019, the doctors at CHOP found a mass inside Piper’s belly, which was pushing down on her hip and causing the limp. On May 17, they discovered Piper has neuroblastoma, a rare cancer that accounts for 7-10% of childhood cancers. It has metastasized into her bones and other parts of her body (Stage M cancer). Never in a million years did her mom think a limp would lead to this. At two years old, Piper is starting a long journey toward recovery.

Jeremiah Reedy

Age: 2 • Diagnosis: Rhabdomyosarcoma • Date of Diagnosis: 6/20/2019

On June 7th, our three-year-old son Jeremiah Michael was diagnosed with pediatric cancer called Rhabdomyosarcoma, just two days after having exploratory surgery to see what was causing his severe stomach pain. As anyone can imagine, our world was rocked as those are words that no parent ever wants to hear. Jeremiah is an active little boy who loves dinosaurs, being silly, Paw Patrol, and his older sister. Through all of his testing and doctors appointments at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital, he has not once asked why he is going through all of this. He is one strong little guy!

Vincent Nowroozi

Age: 18 months old • Diagnosis: Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid tumors (ATRT) • Date of Diagnosis: 6/19/2019

Vincent is a sweet, innocent, baby boy who, at four months old, was diagnosed with ATRT, a rare, fast-growing cancerous brain tumor.

This type of tumor is found in less than 3% of pediatric brain tumors. Vincent has been fighting for his life ever since.

You can follow along in his journey on Facebook by searching "victory 4 vincent"

Xavier Ortiz

Age: 3 • Diagnosis: Nuerofibromatosis 1 • Date of Diagnosis: 05/01/16

Caden Davis

Age: 9 • Diagnosis: Philadelphia Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) • Date of Diagnosis: 5/12/18

Lucas Brown

Age: 5 months old • Diagnosis: Malignant Rhabdoid Tumor (MRT) • Date of Diagnosis: 2/12/2019

This past August 2019, Lucas was called home to his heavily Father.

A message from Lucas Mom…
Lucas, my sweet boy, you persevered and gained a well deserved crown and no doubt gorgeous angel wings.
I hope to one day understand “the bigger picture” of Lucas’ cancer and his death but for now I remain completely heart broken.

The pain of losing your child is exquisitely hard, devastating might be a better word but the thought of never knowing Lucas if far too painful to ever conceive.

Because dear Lucas you were a complete joy and abundant light to all that knew you. Your dad and my heart grew greater than we knew possible the moment we met you.

We were blessed with the amazing task of loving you all 314 days that you lived on this earth.
We are so grateful to have known your beautiful soul and create wonderful, joyful memories that we will treasure always.

Buddy, we miss you terribly but we will be okay. You enjoy your beautiful, pain free body in heaven with your two doggies, Gracie and Sammie.

We love you so very much. Come visit us sometime 💕🦖

Megan Martin

Age: 11 (2007- January 22nd 2019) • Diagnosis: Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) • Date of Diagnosis: 5/11/17

Shailey Kimmel

Age: 5 • Diagnosis: Stage 4 Hodgkin lymphoma • Date of Diagnosis: 12/17/2018

Celia Cosentino

Age: 9 • Diagnosis: Brain Tumor • Date of Diagnosis: 2018

Julia Adams

Age: 2 • Diagnosis: Clival Chordoma • Date of Diagnosis: 11/09/2018

Chloe Koenig

Age: 10 • Metastatic Ewing’s sarcoma stage 4 • Date of Diagnosis: 10/25/2018

Saniyah Muhammad

Age: 8 • Diagnosis: Leukemia • Date of Diagnosis: 03/28/2018

Anthony Myers

Age: 16 • Diagnosis: Stage 3 Anaplastic Astrocytoma (Brain cancer) • Date of Diagnosis: 10/21/2018

Benjamin Reinhold

Age: 7 • Diagnosis: Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) • Date of Diagnosis: 09/09/2018

Blaze Troutman

Age: 8 • Diagnosis: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) • Date of Diagnosis: 07/09/2019

Kierra Broadwater

Age: 10 (March 2008 - December 2018) • Diagnosis: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) • Date of Diagnosis: 08/02/2012

Liam Simpson

Age: 3 • Diagnosis: Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma • Date of Diagnosis: 05/01/2018

Juwan Adams

Age: 16 • Diagnosis: Refractory Hodgkinds Lymphoma stage 4B • Date of Diagnosis: 04/17/2016

Scarlet Ornelas

Age: 2 • Diagnosis: Neuroblastoma stage 4 high risk • Date of Diagnosis: 11/27/2017

Michael Gallagher

Age: 9 months old • Diagnosis: AML (Acute Myeloid Leukemia) • Date of Diagnosis: 06/16/2016

King Singh

Age: 2 • Diagnosis: High Risk Leukemia • Date of Diagnosis: 06/06/2016

Riley Rejniak

Age: 5 • Diagnosis: Stage IV Neuroblastoma • Date of Diagnosis: 04/25/2017

Skylar Maganda

Age: 1 • Diagnosis: MDS (Myelodysplastic syndrome ) • Date of Diagnosis: 01/20/2017

Yomary Velez

Age: 4 • Diagnosis: Stage IV Neuroblastoma • Date of Diagnosis: 07/05/2016

Gemma Cecil

Age: 6 • Diagnosis: Relapsed AML ( Acute Myeloid Leukemia) • Date of Diagnosis: 07/07/2017

Troy Viveros

Age: 10 • Diagnosis: Bcell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia • Date of Diagnosis: 03/22/2017

Arelio Mercado

Age: 3 • Diagnosis: Stage Acute Lymphoblastic leukemia • Date of Diagnosis: 07/17/2016

Arelis Rodriguez

Age: 16 • Diagnosis: Stage IV Neuroblastoma • Date of Diagnosis: 12/01/2015

Vincent Lucchese

Age: 2 • Diagnosis: Retinoblastoma • Date of Diagnosis: 06/01/2017

Camden Martinez

Age: 16 months | Diagnosis: Neuroblastoma

Taylor Rose Schmidt

Age: 4 | Diagnosis: ALL(Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia) | Date of Diagnosis: 08/16/2016

Hozhoonii Suer

Age: 11 | Diagnosis: ALL(Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia) High Risk | Date of Diagnosis: 11/15/2016

Lylah-Jean

Age: 9 months old ( Passed away September 24th 2016-June 17th 2017) | Diagnosis: AT/RT | Date of Diagnosis: 10/13/2016

Ayden Brown

Age: 2 ( Passed away Aug 20, 2014 – Nov 3, 2017) | Diagnosis: Rhabdomyosarcoma | Date of Diagnosis: 09/15/2015

Cristinia Astacio

Age: 12 | Diagnosis: ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia) High Risk | Date of Diagnosis: 10/16/2015

Antonio Gomez-Colon

Age: 9 | Diagnosis: Brain Tumor | Date of Diagnosis: 11/24/2013

Joseph R Twardzik

Age: 16 | Diagnosis: Brain Tumor – non-germinomatous germ cell tumor of the suprasellar and pineal | Date of Diagnosis: 05/26/15

Laynee Costello

Age: 4 | Diagnosis: Recurrent Rhabdomyosarcoma | Date of Diagnosis: 01/3/13

Laynee’s fight began back in December of 2012 when she started having clots appear in her diaper. Concerned her parents took her to the local emergency room that dismissed their claims and sent them home. Shortly after Laynee’s vagina began prolapsing, and she was rushed to the ED once again, but this time a pediatric ED who was able to diagnose what they believed quickly was rhabdomyosarcoma. Further testing confirmed their suspicions, and a large tumor was found in her vagina. Shortly after that, Laynee began chemotherapy post-Broviac placement. Laynee fought long and hard while her three older sisters stood by her. Her central line became her “tubey” and being bald “was beautiful.” Watching her family stand by her and shave their heads was one of the most powerful things to watch. Her spirit was never relenting. Laynee endured intense chemotherapy until November 2013 when the best line a parent could ever hear was uttered… “No evidence of disease.”

The life-threatening battle was over for now. The chemo caused extensive tooth decay and physical delays, but hey we were out of the woods. Laynee worked tirelessly with PT and OT at both St. Christopher’s and the local school district to “just be a regular kid again.” We enjoyed nearly two years of clean scans and that oh so joyous phrase “no evidence of disease,” until two weeks ago. Laynee went in for her routine scans when “no evidence of disease” was off the table. How could this happen when rhabdomyosarcoma? This was not the plan. What else could we do besides wait on the biopsy of both the original tumor site and her bladder (where the new tumor was found). After days of an agonizing wait we got the news we were hoping not to hear, both sites are positive for rhabdomyosarcoma. Laynee will not only be undergoing intense multi-drug chemotherapy but radiation as well. This Friday Laynee has her PET scan and next week bilateral bone marrow biopsies to see if her cancer has metastasized. After that, her port will be placed on Wednesday during the bone marrow aspiration, and chemotherapy will be started immediately after.

Best case scenario Laynee will have local spread, and hopefully, the chemo and radiation will be enough (we were warned that her ovaries would have to be frozen to preserve fertility and her bladder will most likely be destroyed, leading the nephrectomy tubes). This next line is the most challenging line to write; if her cancer has metastasized, there is nothing more we can do but attempt to prolong Laynee’s life since it will have become terminal.

Asiana Rembert

Age: 12 (passed away August 21st 2003-August 23rd 2016) | Diagnosis: Glioblastoma Multiforme | Date of Diagnosis: 06/19/13

After multiply failed attempts for a cure, we are sad to say Asiana is currently on Hospice care.

Kyanna Harris

Age: 4 (passed away February 10 2011-June 18th 2016) | Diagnosis: Neuroblastoma | Date of Diagnosis: 05/28/2014

Kyanna is an adorable 4-year-old little girl who was diagnosed with High-Risk Neuroblastoma on May 28, 2014. The intended treatment plan was for Kyanna to undergo chemotherapy, surgery, MIBG treatment, radiation, and immunotherapy in an effort for a cure. Unfortunately, it was determined that Kyanna has Refractory disease and had to be removed from standard protocol treatment. She then began a trial medication in the hopes of a response and to shift the treatment from cure to chronic management of the illness. After several months on this therapy, Kyanna then progressed again. Kyanna has recently been placed on a trial medication combined with a different chemotherapy regiment, which is early on in its study and administration to patients. It has been offered in the hopes of proving to benefit this little girl.

Camryn Cruz

Age: 8 (Passed away May 30th 2006-May5th 2016) | Diagnosis: relapsed metastatic alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (aRMS) | Date of Diagnosis: 06/13/13

Camryn Cruz is an eight-year-old boy that was diagnosed in 2013 with Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma on his birthday. His treatment has changed several times in the hopes of staying ahead of his cancer. Camryn lives with his family in Pottstown, PA. He loves video games, going out to eat, and going to school when he is feeling well. Camryn is bright, personable, and creative. He continues to fight his cancer every day with the support and love of his family, friends, and school.

Virginia Rose Vandermark

Age: 4 Passed away (February 1st, 2011- December 29, 2015) | Diagnosis: High-Risk AML with Monosomy 7 | Date of Diagnosis: 04/9/15

On April 7th, 2015, Virginia Rose was taken to the Dr. for a rash that developed during Spring Break. Thinking we would get an ointment or referral to a dermatologist, we were blindsided when they sent us to the ER. That night we were told that it looked like cancer. Our hearts sank. Our little girl, full of life and enjoying Easter just two days ago, was now in a battle for her life. On April 9th, it was confirmed that she has AML, and on the 13th, she was classified as High Risk due to mutated chromosome 7 (monosomy 7). She started and finished ten-day induction chemo and will be tested on the 23rd to see how successful that treatment was. She has not left the hospital since the 7th. The first round of Chemo did take out some cancer, but not what we were hoping for. She has developed pneumonia and a partially collapsed left lung. They will go back in for another biopsy on May 8th and then start the second round of Chemo. She had two CT scans as they monitor her lungs. She is staying in the hospital while her body tries to recover from chemo and fight this infection. Her blasts are down from 51% to 46% after induction 1 and have started induction 2 on May 8th. Our two boys, RJ (5) and Samuel (2) have been very strong. Praise God Samuel is a 100% match for Virginia, so if a marrow transplant is needed, he is all set. Please be in prayer for us all. This has taken us all by surprise and our heads are still spinning.

Virginia has been currently transferred to St. Jude’s for intensive treatment.

Isabella "Bella" Conroy

Age: 4 | Diagnosis: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia | Date of Diagnosis: 08/30/13

Isabella’s first year was the worst; she got so sick so many times and spent months in the hospital. She has overcome a lot in this past year. From getting an NG tube because she refused to take her medicine, due to having the worst mouth sores from chemo. Also using the NG tube to have her gain some weight. Now Bella has no feeding tube, takes her medicine by mouth, and is gaining weight on her own. She still has a year or so to go with treatments. We hope she doesn’t fall sick again.

Ariel Rodriguez

Age: 8 | Diagnosis: Neuroblastoma | Date of Diagnosis: 05/8/14

Ariel was diagnosed with a rare childhood cancer called Neuroblastoma and started chemotherapy on Thursday, May 22nd, 2014, she has a long list of treatments ahead, but she is keeping her head up and living life and enjoying her time being a kid while at home between treatments.

Brayden Zackon

Age: 4 | Diagnosis: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia | Date of Diagnosis: 05/21/14

Brayden went for a CBC related to a rash that he had developed in February 2014. The outbreak was known as HSP, which has no connection to Leukemia. The Doctor ordered two follow-up blood tests. The night of May 20th, I took Brayden for his blood work, which I wanted to get done before we left for the beach on the 22nd. That night I couldn’t sleep. I was up all night googling “rash, anemia, fever, and high white blood count”. All signs pointed in one direction- Leukemia. The next day I called the Doctors office as soon as they opened. I told them my concern and that I wanted the results as quickly as possible. The Doctor ended up calling me an hour later, I again told him my fear and that is when he told me this blood work contained some “red flags.” We were sent to Reading Hospital for STAT blood work – testing for Leukemia. My husband left work to meet my sister and me there. I was trying to stay as strong as possible for my son, but in reality, I wanted to break down into a million pieces. How can this be real? We weren’t even home yet, and we got a phone call from Reading Pediatrics, asking where we wanted to be admitted. My husband and I headed to CHOP. I had a million things running through my head. What is going on? How can this be happening? My son is only three years old… We sat in a cold dark room for hours with nurses, doctors, hematologists, and oncologists coming in and out. That was where they confirmed my worst nightmare. I am 8 months pregnant, and my son has cancer.

Brayden was admitted for almost three weeks until we were released. We spend a lot of time driving on the road to and from the clinic for treatments. Brayden is considered high-risk because of the number of Leukemic cells that were still in his bone marrow after his first phase of chemo. Today he started his 5th phase. He has a large cheerleading section routing him on including his best friend- his 7-month-old brother. I have stopped working to fight this battle with my son every step of the way.

Mason Kosmoski

Age: 14 (7/19/99-5/20/14) | Diagnosis: ATRT Bladder Cancer | Date of Diagnosis: 08/21/13

Mason was your typical boys, boy with love for baseball, and a fellow Berks County resident. His life was forever changed when he was diagnosed in 2010 with a benign brain tumor, in 2013 he was diagnosed with dermoid cyst on the floor of his mouth, and then diagnosed in Aug 2013 with ATRT Bladder Cancer, after various treatments, Mason relapsed with cancer in multiple areas and succumbed to the disease in May 2014.

Mason had a heart of gold; he stayed strong and positive throughout his journey. Mason was the first fighter we helped and will forever hold a special place at Laney’s Legacy of Hope.

Because of angels like Mason, we will never stop fighting!

Miguel Rodriguez

Age: 17 | Diagnosis: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia | Date of Diagnosis: 02/19/2014

Miguel was diagnosed with high risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia on Feb. 19th, 2014. Miguel has spent the past ten months in and out of the hospital. Miguel currently is receiving IV chemotherapy in the outpatient clinic at Hershey Medical Center every week. He is also receiving oral chemotherapy at home. Miguel is expected to remain in treatment for another two years. Miguel has had several unexpected admissions to the hospital for side effects of chemotherapy, including fever and mouth sores.

Angelina Miele

Age: 12 Passed away (April 22nd 2004-July 30th 2015) | Diagnosis: Synovial Sarcoma| Date of Diagnosis: 04/16/2014

Angelina was your typical happy, healthy little girl with a smile that could light up the darkest of nights. Angelina celebrated her 10th birthday on April 22nd. On April 23rd she was admitted to CHOP and diagnosed with Synovial Sarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of soft tissue cancer. She had a tumor in her intestines that was determined inoperable due to its size, and her only option was to start chemotherapy treatments in hopes to shrink the tumor. She immediately began chemotherapy on the 23rd of April, one day after her 10th birthday. After seven rounds of chemo, it was determined that she would need radiation and proton therapy, which she received 25 rounds combined.

The last year hasn’t been easy for Angelina or her family, but as of December 2014, we are happy to report her recent scans to show she is CANCER free! Her journey doesn’t end there though she will be going every three months for scans to ensure no new growth, but we are so happy Angelina has the chance to live a “normal” life the way kids her age should live.

Reynaldo Flores

Age: 16 | Diagnosis: Choroid Complex Carcinoma (Brain Tumor) | Date of Diagnosis: 3/24/14

Where to start...It started with my son Rey as we call him, with headaches and nausea, throwing up every morning took him to hospitals to his Primary care Doctors and nothing the one thing that worried me he had vision problems started with double vision and then black outs his eye doctor spend a whole hour and recommended an MRI January 21,2013 expected everything to be ok but the worst news ever he had a Brain tumor stage 3 admitted right away and January 24 2013 surgery took place and my lil boy fought for his life and made it ! Chemotherapy was given for three months followed by MRIs every 3months and a year hadn’t passed since his last Chemotherapy when on April 11, 2014, we got another bad news he has not one but two tumors that came back, so he is in active treatments, stem cells removed to give back after his last chemotherapy is giving!!!! He is a fighter, and won’t give up yes he is scared every day that goes by, but we have faith in God he will make through it! He is currently home school, and he is doing great he is in 7th grade in Lebanon Middle School and misses all his friends and the things he enjoyed before, he also has a little chihuahua name Mico. All we can do is have FAITH and make the best of the situation!!

Update 1/31/2018

Rey had another tumor September 5, 2017, we decided to go to Washington to children’s hospital to do trial medication, but it didn’t work, so they decide to remove the tumor at Hershey. It went great but less than a month later two more tumors grew, they decided to remove the cancer on Dec 19, 2017, Dec 20th MRI was conducted, and they found a small tumor that wasn’t initially visible. Due to the location, he was not a candidate for surgery. January 9, 2018, he went in for a gamma knife procedure and Sunday morning Jan 28, 2018, he suffered two seizures. Monday morning Jan 29th, 2018, they found two new tumors. We are waiting to hear what treatment he can get to avoid the tumors to get any bigger. Rey can’t catch a break he has missed the whole school year. He can’t do much but t sit and play ps4 or watch movies or sleep due to him being nauseous or restless nights! Please keep Rey in your prayers as he continues to fight this cancer!