Evie 💙 A Hero In a Blue T-shirt
“Connor’s Heroes never stops. They give graciously, as if my kids were their own family.”
— Evie’s mom, Danielle
Danielle is mom to three children under the age of four. Evie is the middle child and the only girl. “On Wednesday, January 13, 2021, we heard those words that are every parent’s nightmare, ‘I’m sorry. It’s cancer.’” Doctors diagnosed Evie with neuroblastoma, a rare cancer that almost always affects children. Connor’s Heroes can help Evie and over a hundred children in treatment in Central Virginia today.
“Connor’s Heroes is about making the journey a little less stressful, so I can focus on what is important: the time I have with my children.”
EVIE’S ENDEAVOR — THE START OF HER JOURNEY
“Evie’s Endeavor started in October of 2020 with a sudden onset of behavioral issues. The kind that we have all joked about when our kids are acting like “the devil.” The only difference was hers never stopped. Little did we know that the issue within her tiny body was much bigger than anything we could ever imagine.
After about six weeks of this behavior, we found ourselves in the hospital. What we thought would be a long day, turned into an inpatient stay lasting five days. We walked away with no answers on what could be wrong with her neurologically.
Fast forward three weeks to include one more inpatient stay, we were back at VCU awaiting a CT of her abdomen when we first learned that cancer was a possibility.
On January 13th, 2021, we heard those four words that are every parent’s nightmare, “I’m sorry. It’s cancer.” Evie was diagnosed with neuroblastoma.
Within 36 hours from her diagnosis, she was in surgery to have a biopsy of the tumor, port placement, and bone marrow draw. The “routine” three hour surgery turned into eight. Around hour six, doctors told us they removed the tumor. Talk about being shocked. That wasn’t even a topic in conversation before she went into surgery.
Evie has been through different immunotherapies as well as four rounds of chemo in an eight month time.
On August 13th, 2021, Evie was declared cancer-free.
Currently, she is back in treatment as some of her symptoms have come back. She had her second set of clear scans at the beginning of October and for that, I could not be more thankful. VCU has some of the most amazing doctors, but I know God had his hand on my baby girl, and I will continue to pray he always will.”
“The financial struggle doesn’t end when your child is declared cancer free. Connor’s Heroes knows that. They continue to help my family into the next phase of Evie’s journey.”
DONATIONS TO CONNOR’S HEROES WERE A LIFELINE FOR EVIE’S FAMILY
After Evie started treatment, she received a Connor’s Heroes Bag and Backpack. Inside were crafts, games, toiletries, and her very own an iPad!
“There were so many fun and engaging things in the Connor’s Heroes Bag and Backpack. She is in LOVE with her “Be A Hero” shirt. It’s oversized and oh so comfy! Her iPad is probably her second favorite and a lifesaver on clinic days! All of the personal hygiene items have been a lifesaver when those check-ups turn into entire days worth of treatment or tests.”
“Connor’s Heroes mailed us a Family Fun Pack filled with the cutest summer items. Inside was a bean bag toss game, sunglasses for all three kiddos, as well as some leis and small items they all loved so much!
In the beginning, we went to VCU anywhere from one to three times a week. A round trip was over 70 miles and very hard on our one-income family. The gas cards I received in the mail from Connor’s Heroes made the difference in making every appointment or missing out on some. The grocery cards were absolutely amazing.
The gift cards help us get through the tough weeks or I put them away for the “unknowns.” There are so many of those in the cancer world.“
“From her very first phone call, Erin gave me comfort in the fact that we weren’t alone.”
A NEW FRIEND TO HELP THE FAMILY
Connor’s Heroes program team built a special bond with Evie’s family. Erin and Anne-Randolph surprised them with gift cards, family fun packs in the mail, and thoughtfulness in every email, phone call, and visit.
“Erin is a beautiful human being. I thank God for allowing our paths to cross even if it took cancer to get us here.
From the very first phone call, she gave me hope and comfort in the fact that we weren’t alone in this. She calls multiple times a month and every time it is like I’m talking to a friend I’ve had for years. She reassures me that I’m doing everything I can for all the kiddos and reminds me to breathe.
I believe it’s more of who she is, versus the “job,” so to speak.“
A new year is a new unknown for Evie.
A new diagnosis for another child.
A new family who will need Connor’s Heroes.
Make your donation so a family will never face their child’s cancer alone. You can make sure the next hero family receives financial assistance when they need it the most, and emotional support through every personal note, email, phone call, and visit. As the world looks for hope, guidance, and support, our childhood cancer families don’t have to look far. Hope, guidance, and support are the pillars of Connor’s Heroes mission.
Thank you to Danielle for writing about her family and Connor’s Heroes. All pictures are from Danielle’s page on Facebook: Evie’s Endeavor.
November Heroes Art Session
As the year winds down and the holidays gear up, Connor’s Heroes is grateful to our donors whose donations allow us to safely gather with our hero families for the monthly Heroes Art Sessions.
At the November Heroes Art Session, the kids used a variety of mediums to create art of all styles that visualize iconic landmarks around Richmond.
The kids were really excited when Sarah broke out a big block of clay. She showed the kids how to cut, sculpt, and decorate the clay into different holiday shapes. Stay tuned to see the results after Sarah fires up all their clay creations in a kiln. (Having access to a kiln is one of the many perks we receive thanks to our partnership with The Visual Arts Center of Richmond.)
Our Heroes Art Sessions provide a supportive environment in which childhood cancer heroes and their siblings can make art, and build community with other hero families. At the sessions, they feel a collective sense of healing simply by creating and being together. We are grateful to The Visual Arts Center of Richmond for giving us the space for an open studio. And to our donors who allow the Heroes Art Sessions to happen at no cost to our families.
Childhood Cancer Heroes: Everett, Joshua, Ariana, Lucy, Valentin, Zuri, Kennedy
Hero Artist Leaders & Volunteers: Emilia Texler, Nancy LeBlanc, Emily Griffin, Katelyn Griffin, Anna, Wilkinson, Patricia Burchett, Sarah Cross
If you are interested in sharing your talents by volunteering as a hero artist leader, fill out our online volunteer application posted on our website: www.connorsheroes.org/ways-to-give/
If you can not volunteer your time, you can support the monthly heroes art sessions and other programs offered to childhood cancer heroes by making a donation online: www.connorsheroes.org/ways-to-give/
You will meet some of the childhood cancer heroes shown here. They will be our guests of honor at the 11th Annual Heroes Art Ball in May 2022!
Gift Hope & Give Hope
With the holiday season gearing up, today is a great day to embrace giving. Currently 100 childhood cancer heroes are in active treatment. Moms, dads and grandparents juggle the emotional challenges and financial toll of cancer while trying to celebrate the magic of the holidays. They look to Connor’s Heroes community of heroes for hope, guidance, and support.
This season, pledge to make your holiday gifts more meaningful by giving a childhood cancer family the hope they need during a difficult time.
Remember, Connor’s Heroes makes it easy for you to make a donation in honor of someone who cares about helping children.
#1 Give A $250 Gift Card
#2 Order a Toy, Game or Craft from our Hero Holiday Wish List
#3 Donate To The Holiday Hero Fund
Photos from 2019 and 2020 Holiday Open Houses
Our 2021 Holiday Open House is made possible thanks to the generosity of Cathy Heizer, her family and friends. They kick started the campaign with gifts made in memory of her husband, Paul “Opie.” Opie passed away this year after battling pancreatic cancer. Opie devoted his life to supporting child-focused nonprofits such as Connor’s Heroes and HELP Charities. Opie wanted to make sure children with cancer received love, strength, and support. We are honored to have Cathy serving on our Board of Directors. Cathy said
“I am the grandmother of five wonderful grandchildren ages 6 through 12. It is our family tradition that at Christmas time, the grandchildren and I donate to a nonprofit like The Angel Tree, for example. Ever since I joined Conner’s Heroes Board of Directors I wondered how my family could help their brave hero families. Being a Holiday Hero is perfect. My family is donating in memory of my husband who loved — and I do mean loved! — Christmas. I know Opie would want us to carry on his excitement for Christmas. I can’t think of a better way than to give holiday cheer to area families by giving to Connor’s Heroes.”
Today's Helping Hero: Andrew Getchell with Page Auto Group
Andrew is the father to childhood cancer hero Luke who sadly passed away in 2019 after battling leukemia. Andrew never forgot the ways Connor’s Heroes helped him and his son. For the past few years, during September Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Andrew’s friends, family, and his employer, Page Auto Group, held a fundraiser for Connor’s Heroes. This year, they raised more than $5,000. This donation will do a tremendous amount of good for the 100 plus children in active treatment right now.
“My son, Luke, battled leukemia from July 2018 to Oct 2019. Connor’s Heroes was there during our four-plus months of hospital stays and countless clinic visits. They encouraged and supported Luke and us. I am forever grateful to them for their kindness, generosity, and their love for Luke. It is in Luke’s memory that I raised money for this worthwhile nonprofit organization.”
Thank you Andrew and for honoring the memory of your son through your generosity to other childhood cancer heroes.
Peek Inside The Wonder Tower
"When we made it to the 12th floor a spectacular view of the city greeted us. It took my breath away."
— Celia Tetlow Martin, Executive Director, Connor’s Heroes
Celia had a sneak peek into the Wonder Tower, the new inpatient children’s hospital, under construction downtown. Set to open in Spring 2023, the integrated children’s hospital will be the state-of-the-art facility our families need and dream of. Touring the site with Celia was Laura Markley (Connor’s Heroes Board Chair), Zach Isbell (Connor’s Heroes Board Member) and Marshall Lynch (mom to childhood cancer hero, Eleanor, and donor). Elias Neujhar (President of Children’s Hospital of Richmond) and Lauren Moore (President and CEO of Children’s Hospital Foundation) shared how The Wonder Tower will transform the care of children way beyond Richmond.
Zach is a VP at JLL, the company overseeing the project and gave everyone an insider’s view of the Wonder Tower:
“Being a part of the team delivering the new Children’s Hospital has been the opportunity of a lifetime. I see first hand the dedication and passion the team at Children’s Hospital has for crafting the spaces where they’ll deliver life-changing care for so many children. As a supporter and Board member at Connor’s Heroes I couldn’t help but think of how these spaces would allow our programs to grow and bring even more support to our families.”
Zach proudly showed where Connor’s Heroes five Rooms Filled With Hope will be on the hematology/oncology floor. Each room will help a hero family along their child’s cancer journey — starting with their child’s diagnosis, through treatment, and beyond.
“Showing Celia and my other Board members what these spaces will look like and how our hero families will access them has been one of the highlights of the project. It’s not every day I blend personal and professional passions. I couldn’t be more excited to share these spaces with everyone when they open in 2023.”
Zach’s excitement for the project carried over to Celia:
“When we made it to the 12th floor, a spectacular view of the city greeted us. It took my breath away. That’s when it hit me. Connor’s Heroes has been caring for childhood cancer families for 15 years. We were looking out to what is before us: a future full of unlimited possibilities.“
Back on the ground floor, Laura said:
“It was a thrill to see the dream coming to life under construction! Connor’s Heroes Rooms Filled With Hope will bring daily moments of hope to our heroes, as well as support and encouragement to staff and caregivers. This is a momentous and humbling opportunity for Connor’s Heroes to work alongside CHoR in reshaping and improving the experience our heroes, their families, and their medical caregivers have as they journey through childhood cancer.”
Thanks to the generosity of people like you, Connor’s Heroes is so close to hitting the goal of raising $250,000 to open the Rooms Filled With Hope. When you give to our campaign, you can help reach the final $25,000 needed to open these doors. Find out the wonderful things you can make happen when you give to our Rooms Filled With Hope Campaign: www.connorsheroes.org/rooms-filled-with-hope/
Burger Bach Gives Bach
Burger Bach (select locations) Give Bach
Burger Of The Month
DATES: October 1 – 31, 2021
LOCATIONS: Select locations
Durham: 737 9th St Durham, NC
Midlothian: 101 Heaths Way Road, Midlothian, VA
Short Pump: 2225 Old Brick Rd, Glen Allen, VA
Charlottesville: 2050 Bond Street, Charlottesville, VA
EVENT DETAILS: Burger Bach crafted a delicious burger this month. The Reuben is made with NZ Beef, bacon, spicy brown, original sauce and sauerkraut all dressed up on a pretzel bun. For each burger of the month sold, Burger Bach will donate $1 to Connor’s Heroes.
October Heroes Art Session
“We love cookies and pumpkins!” said a hero parent when he registered his two kids for the October Heroes Art Session.
The October Heroes Art Session was our largest art session this year. Our families and hero artists took over the Visual Arts Center’s beautiful courtyard. Our childhood cancer heroes created colorful freestyle art projects and worked on several paintings with our hero artists. Here was all the fall fun we packed in one afternoon session:
Cookie Decorating
Holland Baking Company, baked up giant cookies in the shape of halloween skeletons. The kids decorated their cookies with edible paint turning them into edible works of art. Catherine bakes the best sugar cookies and her decorating kits are a family favorite.
Pumpkin Painting
Connor’s Heroes newest board member, Karrie, helped the kids paint pint-sized pumpkins for Halloween. Volunteering for the first time with Connor’s Heroes was her daughter, Keagan. (Pictured Karrie with childhood cancer hero, Charlotte.)
Jewelry Making
Liana was so proud of the earring she made, she immediately put them in her ears! Thank you Katie Benson for bringing all sorts of beads and jewels to make this fun activity such a hit.
Leaf Pressing
Dale, a hero artist, brought a collection of fall leaves. The kids painted a leaf and pressed it to make colorful prints.
Stainglass Painting
Jennike came prepared with paints, tissue paper, and clear sheets of transparency. Jennike sketched out a design with thick black edges. The kids filled up the design using tissue paper and paints. What they created resemble the bright colors of a beautiful stained glass windows. Pictured is Jennike helping childhood cancer hero Lucy.
Richmond Skyline
Nancy Jacey is a hero artist who has created art with our hero families for several years. She had the concept of a painting of Richmond’s iconic bridges and skyline. But she wasn’t going to do it herself. She had our heroes paint their artist interpretation of a segment of the image like a bridge trellis or river rock. Nancy will assemble the children’s paintings to make up the Richmond skyline. Be on the lookout for this masterpiece at the 11th Annual Heroes Art Ball in May 2022!
Light Box
Katie Benson’s project is so big, she needed two people to carry it into the courtyard. Her husband framed a clear sheet in a wooden box. A kid painted with their favorite colors. Some of the children made handprints. When it is all done, the box will illuminate the kids’ favorite colors into an expression of hope.
Our Heroes Art Sessions provide a supportive environment in which childhood cancer heroes and their siblings can make art and build community with other hero families. At the sessions, you feel a collective sense of healing by creating and being together. We are grateful to Visual Arts Center for giving us the space for an open studio. And to our donors who allow the Heroes Art Sessions to happen at no cost to our families.
Childhood Cancer Heroes: Zuri, James, Holden, Alvion, Sydney, Lucy, Gabby, Becca, Josie, Callen, Liana, Kennedy, Anna, Florian, Charlotte.
Hero Artist Leaders & Volunteers: Dale, Olivia, Keagan, Karrie, Hanan, Nancy, Ella, Katie, Izzy, Jennike, Sarah, Taylor, Kristie and Jodi.
Celebrating Our Progress
We spent a beautiful evening on the rooftop of Quirk Hotel. It was the perfect venue because it overlooked the city with a bird’s eye view of the main attraction: the construction of the new inpatient children’s hospital. When the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU opens the Wonder Tower in 2023, childhood cancer families will have an integrated hematology and oncology floor they have been dreaming of.
Connor’s Heroes can open five permanent spaces designed with our childhood cancer heroes, their families, healthcare teams, and researchers in mind. We need our community of heroes to open five Rooms Filled With Hope!
At the rooftop reception, Celia shared the exciting progress of the hospital’s construction and our Rooms Filled With Hope campaign. Generous donors already have contributed $215,000 to our ambitious goal of $250,000. You are so close to fully funding the Connor’s Heroes rooms coming to the the Wonder Tower!
We were honored to have Keondra and her son Jonathan as our guests at the reception. Jonathan is one of the 100 children who are in active treatment right now. Keondra shared how Connor’s Heroes helps her family, especially for the many trips to New York City for Jonathan’s treatment in a clinical trial.
Barbara, Fred and Frances Hess also were at the reception. The Jamie Hess Bone Marrow Transplant Lab will be named after their son Jamie who died from leukemia in 2002. Laura Markley, Connor’s Heroes Board Chair, introduced and thanked our amazing board members. Our corporate donors (AT&T, Kaplan Voekler Cunningham & Frank PLC, and Riverfront Investment Group) enjoyed meeting the people who also contributed to the campaign.
Celia reminded everyone of the wonderful future they are building for Connor’s Heroes. Not only when the Wonder Tower opens, but every day.
Fall Event at Mellow Mushroom
“Who wants some PIZZA?!?”
When Mellow Mushroom Midlothian asked a room of kids and their families, all hands went up. Connor’s Heroes hosted a Make-Bake-Your-Own-Pizza-Party for our childhood cancer heroes and their families. It was a beautiful afternoon with everyone outside on the patio. Anne-Randolph handed out aprons and chefs hats for our little pizza makers. Families sat at their own table with a pizza box full of freshly made dough and all their favorite ingredients to top off their pizzas. Kids and parents rolled their dough and crafted the perfect pizza (Look for the picture of Holden and Piper’s pepperoni pizza face). They marched into the Mellow Mushroom kitchen. Staff helped them load their pizza into the pizza oven. PRESTO ~ the perfect pizza!!
It was wonderful to be together with our hero families. A big thank you to Heather and Susan, our friends at Mellow Mushroom. They did a great job of hosting our large group of kids and parents — two pizza parties on Saturday and Sunday. Connor’s Heroes can continue to host events for our families (keeping their safety in mind) thanks to your generous donations.
Childhood Cancer Heroes: Holden, Bryanna, Brittany, Alvion, Valentin, Ariana, Austin, Sophia, Josie, Charlotte, Thomas, James, William, Koree, Kennedy, and Javi
Heart of the Family 💙 Cooper
And as soon as she said that, I knew instantly, that’s what it was. I knew. One sentence out of someone’s mouth, your world is changed…and changed forever.
CHANGED FOREVER
It was just a regular old Tuesday for the world, but one that was life altering for Cooper’s family. Jen and Dustin had recently noticed some little red dots on Cooper’s face and unexplained bruising. It heightened their parenting intuition enough for a doctor’s visit.
On March 3, 2020 Dustin took Cooper to see their nurse practitioner with hopes of getting a simple diagnosis like low iron or something fixed by a vitamin. Both the nurse practitioner and pediatrician took a look and decided some further testing was needed. Cooper and Dustin went directly to the local ER.
Meanwhile Jen had been holding something in her heart, something she hadn’t shared yet with anyone.
“So about two weeks prior in February, I was in the shower one morning. I know this probably sounds a little crazy, but it’s part of our story. I audibly hear God when something big is going to happen in our lives. I was in the shower that morning and I heard Him say, ‘There’s cancer in your house.’ Never did I ever think that it was our kids. I naturally thought that it was going to be me. When the nurse practitioner called, she said ‘I don’t want to alarm you, but I also want you to be prepared. I can’t tell you much more but I believe your son has leukemia.’
And as soon as she said that, I knew instantly, that’s what it was. I knew.”
Dustin was having his own unfolding of the truth about his son’s health.
“When the blood results came back, it was leukemia. It all happened so fast, the ambulance picked Coop up from the ER. Jen rode along with him to VCU, and I came home and packed us overnight bags. The next day he started his first chemo, then several days and a few tests later we got more news. When doctors walked in the door, you could just feel the heaviness, you know? It was AML, one of the most aggressive forms of cancer. Then we spent 45 days in the hospital, in the beginning of a pandemic.”
Jen remembered it so clearly, “One sentence out of someone’s mouth, your world is changed…and changed forever.”
The severity of cancer and the expected timing/need of treatment, and then coordination of the transplant after were all seriously complicated by the pandemic, it felt nearly impossible.
BONE MARROW MIRACLE
Cooper’s cancer required an aggressive treatment. The family knew immediately he would need a bone marrow transplant but they would have to get through a few rounds of chemo to be in remission first. The severity of cancer and the expected timing/need of treatment, and then coordination of the transplant after were all seriously complicated by the pandemic, it felt nearly impossible.
“They told us it was a one in a million chance that you’re going to go straight to transplant, and I remember saying, well, we serve a one in a million God that specializes in that.”
After the first cycle, he was in remission, all clear, no cancer. They told us not to get our hopes up because we’re not going to be able to coordinate, find a donor, get a donation and get the cells here in time before he’s going to have to start another cycle. But that all did happen. He got his transplant on May 11. It really was a miracle.” Jen said.
“It was kind of sparkly,” Coop said as he described what his bone marrow looked like. “It felt kinda weird going in… and that’s a note my donor gave me.”
This picture were taken just after the Cooper and his family met and spent the weekend with Cooper’s bone marrow miracle donor, Ann.
Here I had two kids in children’s hospitals 3,000 miles apart, during a global pandemic. That’s why I say it’s almost comical. Like you can’t make this up.
3,000 MILES APART
Because Cooper’s whole cancer journey started right at the beginning of the pandemic, it meant that only one parent could be with him at a time. Jen and Dustin only saw each other in the lobby every two to three days to pass the car keys off to each other. They did this for almost 4.5 months.
The exhaustion was very real and it became clear that they needed more support to care for their four-year-old daughter, Liv. They were grateful that Jen’s parents were able to take Liv home with them in California for a bit. While the the family was waiting for Coop’s bone marrow engraftment, Jen got a call that Liv was having some abdominal pain. One ER trip later and it was discovered Liv’s appendix had ruptured and she was going septic and fast.
“Here I had two kids in children’s hospitals 3,000 miles apart, during a global pandemic. That’s why I say it’s almost comical. Like you can’t make this up. They didn’t have a pediatric surgeon at that hospital because of the pandemic so they ended up taking her by ambulance to a children’s hospital in Sacramento.” Jen recalled.
“The doctor called me, Jen was already in the air on the way. I gave her parental consent over the phone to do the surgery and Liv was out before Jen even landed.” Dustin said.
“She hadn’t woken up yet, I just wanted to be there when she woke up. I wanted her to see me.” Being so far apart was hard on Coop and Liv. They missed each other something terrible during that time. “They were always close but now they are even closer. Ever since we came home, they’ve slept in the same bed together every night.”
WHAT MUST BE DONE
Dustin and Jen got the incredible news that Cooper’s transplant was engrafting and things were headed in the right direction, but it didn’t last long. Coop soon got a bladder infection and kidney stones, and another virus after that.
Jen remembered the hardest days. “It was kidney stones, but I mean, he was just scream bloody murder for hours, hours on end. And I think people don’t know, there’s no way of communicating how bad it was in that hospital room. There’s no words for what we saw. I mean, there were multiple times where he would say, ‘I just want to go to heaven. I just want to go to heaven.’”
“And it’s like, how do you explain it to them? I promise you, this is going to help. This is helping you. I know it’s so hard for you to understand that, but you don’t, you can’t, you know, I’m so sorry buddy. During those days I would tell him ‘Cooper, I’m not going to sit here and watch you die. You have to do this.’ Whatever has to happen, whatever I have to do, I’m going to make him do what he has to do.
But then I would go in the car and sit and cry.” Dustin said.
PRAYER AND THE BEEP POLE
Things continued to get worse for Cooper. It felt like the darkest time they had faced yet.
“I remember it was getting really bad, really bad. It just seemed like he had kind of given up his fight. He wasn’t laughing, smiling, we couldn’t get him to eat. Like our Cooper wasn’t in there, even though he was physically there.” Jen said.
The decision was made to move Cooper to the ICU, because he required so much care. Jen and Liv were still in California and it was clear the family needed to be held in a new way. Their community showed up as they had so many times before.
Quite a bit of our staff from our church where we both work came to pray. They all were under the ICU, lifting their hands, in the street right below. It was incredible.
“A couple days later my dad was able to be in the ICU with Coop since Jen was gone. So my dad is a big cut up, funny, does magic tricks, a very musical guy. We had named Cooper’s pole “Beep” because it was always beeping, there were 22 machines and pumps going in him. So my dad was singing to the beeps and then all of a sudden the beeping stopped and dad kept singing. They both looked at each other and laughed. Just that little thing made him laugh. And it was like he came back to us.” Dustin said.
Things weren’t exactly easy after that, Cooper went through a virus but slowly things started getting a little better each day. Coop got his fight back.
“I don’t know how you do it without faith, you know, when you’re so close to death like that. I think that’s the thing that held us together. Of course, you know, we had so many people lifting us up and praying over us and so much wonderful support too.”
“I swear every time, every time we needed to refill a tank, there’d be a gas card or something we needed in that backpack. Connor’s Heroes was really there for us. It just was constant. We’re so grateful.” said Jen.
Cooper’s cancer journey is not over.
And for the next child diagnosed with cancer, it is just beginning.
As we recognize Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, make your donation so a family will never face their child’s cancer alone. You can make sure the next hero family receives financial assistance when they need it the most, and emotional support through every personal note, email, phone call, and visit. As the world looks for hope, guidance, and support, our childhood cancer families don’t have to look far. Hope, guidance, and support are the pillars of Connor’s Heroes mission.
About the authors:
Kristin Seward
Kristin is a portrait photographer and photojournalist whose passion is finding and telling stories of hope within the community. She became involved with Connor’s Heroes after spending time with Katie Tyson and her family. Katie and Jim’s son, Callen, was diagnosed with leukemia. Over the course of two years, Kristin documented several other Connor’s Heroes hero families — both during and after treatment — for the “Heroes of RVA” and “RVA Cures” campaigns. She is honored to be able to do this project with her dear friend and fellow Compassion Photographer, Patience Salgado.
Patience Salgado
Patience Salgado is a Compassion Photographer who has had the honor of serving and photographing families in the passages of both birth and pediatric hospice for the last 12 years. The Salgado family found themselves on their own medical journey when their son Jamie was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in the summer of 2019. Walking this path together has solidified her heart belief that there is beauty in the dark and power in the light. Her hope is to see and honor each part of your story and reflect all the beautiful humanity it holds.