A local boy from Ashland, Oregon, Alex was diagnosed with a Grade 3 Anaplastic Astrocytoma brain tumor in May of 2013 at the age of 11. He was an amazing young man who loved to ride and race his bike with his Dad. He took 4th overall for his division in Oregon. Alex also loved to ski, surf and had recently started soccer. He excelled in school (he was a math whiz) and volunteered at the animal shelter, where he was known as the cat whisperer because of his love for cats.
Sammy Johnson
Sophie Godoy
Sophie began showing symptoms that something was wrong when she began vomiting on April 14, 2011. After several trips to the pediatrician and ER, she was turned away each time while doctors dismissed her illness to something minor like a "reflux, virus, or ear infection". During her last visit to the ER, Sophie's mom made a call to her pediatrician and they agreed to finally admit her to the hospital. After a CT scan of her brain was performed it was determined that Sophie had a brain cancer known as Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor (PNET).
Jonathan (JJ) Bland
In July of 2012, JJ went for his 10 year check up. At the end of the visit we casually mentioned that JJ had been having some leg pain. It wasn't constant and would come and go with no explanation. There were no bruises, lumps, or redness; no fever or signs of infection, and it wasn't enough to keep him from going to school or martial arts classes every day. It wasn't something we were overly concerned about (more of a nuisance than anything) and not something we would have made an appointment for specifically.
Marik Tucker
On August 14, 2012, Marik was diagnosed with a form of bone cancer that is found primarily in children called Osteosarcoma. A little less than a month later he would undergo a procedure to have his right leg amputated. He's been making great progress ever since, continues with his chemotherapy, and lets nothing stand in his way. We love this "Little Man", as he's known.
Jack Dorr
A local boy from Ashland, Oregon, Jack was diagnosed with an aggressive Astrocytoma brain tumor on his spine in January of 2013 at the age of 8 years old. Shortly thereafter Jack had some of the tumor resected and started treatment that included radiation and chemotherapy. Through all that he endured in treatment and the side effects of his disease, Jack remained an active, playful and happy boy.
Skyler Fisher
Skyler began experiencing symptoms in September of 2012. He could not lay flat because it would make him cough so much that it made it difficult for him to breathe.His doctors noticed a cluster of his lymph nodes on the right side of his neck and what is known as petechiae on his skin (red and purple spots). His doctors originally started him on a treatment regimen for asthma but he experienced fevers and his condition was not improving. His mother decided to take him back to the Emergency Room at OHSU in Portland because she felt something else was wrong. Her feelings would later be confirmed – Skyler had Leukemia.
Cassie Powell
Cassie was diagnosed in 2010 with Stage IV High Risk Neuroblastoma, a form of childhood cancer that affects the sympathetic nervous system. A local girl from Oregon, Cassie has been fighting bravely against her disease. She is just as brave and tough as she is beautiful and we look forward to the day when she has kicked cancer to the curb for good.
Danny Solis
Danny was diagnosed with T-Cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma with Central Nervous System infiltration in November of 2012. Don't let his quiet and calm "Clark Kent" exterior fool you because Danny is truly Super Man. He has been through a lot of rough patches in his treatment and is as tough as nails, enduring chemotherapy and radiation along with all of the horrible side effects that come with it.