On January 28, 2018, members of the Laney’s Legacy of Hope family visited the Ronald McDonald House in Hershey. The Ronald McDonald House serves as a “home away from home” for many families for many reasons. “The Ronald McDonald House keeps children and families together by providing temporary housing, at no charge, to out-of-town families of seriously ill children who are being treated at Penn State Children’s Hospital.” The Brown family spent time there in between some of Delaney’s hospitalizations.
During stressful times, sometimes the simplest things can make a family feel “normal” or at home. Meals are prepared regularly by families and organizations who volunteer their time, using the beautiful kitchen and facilities provided by the RMH. Families staying there can eat as the food is made- either in the dining areas or in their rooms. For families who are in and out, there are almost always leftovers to be found in the refrigerator.
Laney’s Legacy of Hope was proud to provide breakfast for the families we met on Jan. 28. It was a fulfilling experience to be able to give to them as they going through tough times, just as families had done for Laney and the Browns in the past.
In addition to preparing breakfast, we were happy to deliver lots of toys and crafts to replenish the closet seen in our picture. Not only is the RMH a comfy and welcoming place to be if you can’t be at home with your family, but children are welcomed to help themselves to the toy and craft closet while they are there! Our additions were generously donated by the Learning Express of Wyomissing. Thank you Learning Express, and Thank You Ronald McDonald House! We can’t wait to return!
Alexis Runyen
Piper Irias
Jeremiah Reedy
Vincent Nowroozi
Xavier Ortiz
Caden Davis
Lucas Brown
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.
Megan Martin
Shailey Kimmel
Celia Cosentino
Julia Adams
Chloe Koenig
Anthony Myers
Benjamin Reinhold
Blaze Troutman
Kierra Broadwater
Liam Simpson
Juwan Adams
Scarlet Ornelas
Michael Gallagher
King Singh
Riley Rejniak
Skylar Maganda
Yomary Velez
Gemma Cecil
Troy Viveros
Arelio Mercado
Arelis Rodriguez
Vincent Lucchese
Camden Martinez
Taylor Rose Schmidt
Hozhoonii Suer
Lylah-Jean
Ayden Brown
Cristinia Astacio
Antonio Gomez-Colon
Laynee Costello
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.
Kyanna Harris
Virginia Rose Vandermark
Isabella "Bella" Conroy
Ariel Rodriguez
Brayden Zackon
Mason Kosmoski
Angelina Miele
Reynaldo Flores
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!




