Ceci Hull

Nancy is a talented artist who shares her love of art with our patients. She is using her talents to raise money for her Hero Squad campaign. She will donate proceeds from the sales of her art sold at her family vineyard, Jacey Vineyards, in Heathsville, Virginia. www./jaceyvineyard.com

On September 19, Celia and Connor’s Heroes Board Of Directors hosted a reception for the members and prospective members of our Circle Of Heroes. Circle of Heroes is made up of people who generously commit an annual gift of $1,000 or more. Elias Neujahr, CEO of Children’s Hospital of Richmond, gave an update on the construction of the new inpatient hospital. Will introduced his daughter Olivia and shared how Connor’s Heroes helped his family through Olivia’s treatment.

If you want to join the Circle of Heroes, make your online gift.

Napier Realtors ERA presented a check for $27,000 to fund pediatric cancer research right here in Richmond. The money was collected at the 2019 Music For Massey concert. Thank you to Napier Realtors ERA for your commitment to fund childhood cancer research.

On April 8, 2018, doctors diagnosed Karen’s daughter Brynna Kate with very high-risk leukemia. Brynna was two years old. Karen remembers the weeks after Brynna’s diagnosis.

Even though we will never meet many of you, your support, your generosity, and your love have forever altered our lives and the life of our daughter. 

It was all a blur, yet the details stand out vividly in my mind. Blood tests, ultrasounds, a CT scan, a flurry of activity all leading up to the moment when we heard the words that forever altered our family’s course: “Your daughter has cancer.” Brynna’s oncologist asked if we had any questions. I said, “I only have one, and I know you can’t answer it, but is she going to be ok?” She replied, “Your daughter is VERY sick, but we are going to do everything we can to help her.”

Before Brynna’s diagnosis, I had never heard of Connor’s Heroes; yet Connor’s Heroes is a part of our journey. We were sent to the waiting room while doctors prepped Brynna for procedures. In the room was a Connor’s Heroes Backpack. The iPad inside helped us pass many long days at clinic and in the hospital. Our first week in the hospital, I met Erin when she was helping serve lunch to the families on the 7th floor. She has become a sweet friend. She is encouraging, smiling, and uplifting every time I see her in clinic or talk with her on the phone. 

After two tear-jerking, but miracle-filled weeks in the PICU, followed by two weeks in the step-down unit, Brynna came home… no longer able to walk, weak, pale, and confused, but she came home.

Our focus was on our daughter’s battle and keeping our young sons’ lives as normal as possible. Finances needed to become one of the least of our worries. We felt loved, seen, taken care of, and supported by Connor’s Heroes.

During the holidays, Connor’s Heroes had events for the children in treatment. I yearned to say yes to them, but Brynna was in a portion of treatment where she could not be around people. Connor’s Heroes surprised us with a generous gift card for the holidays. I cried. We received a box in the mail. Inside was everything we needed to watch a movie, including snacks and a red and white striped popcorn box. It was incredible. I cried again. As Brynna finished up her intense treatment, she slowly ventured out more and more. Erin and Celia invited us to the monthly art sessions. Wyatt and Brynna had a blast! Our family was featured in the Heroes Art Ball. Connor’s Heroes picked out a perfect hot pink “tutu” dress for Brynna. 

Once Brynna put on the dress, she shined. It was a beautiful night, and we were completely blown away by the generosity of every person in attendance.

Brynna will complete her treatment in August 2020. We have a long road ahead, but she continues to amaze us with her strength, resilience, humor, and joy. This journey has been heartbreaking, isolating, miracle-filled, horrendous, and beautiful. We would never choose this path, but we know God has sustained us and our family through the prayers, support, and love from countless people. 

Thank you for providing beauty to our lives.

Giving back to their community runs in the Dotter family. Jim served on our Board. Cathy and Jim love the Heroes Art Ball. Now, their children are following in their philanthropic parent’s footsteps. Son Patrick signed on for our Hero Squad. Read about why Patrick wants to continue his family’s support of Connor’s Heroes

Kevin and Lorie McCollough are a part of our community of heroes. They are founding members of our Circle of Heroes and dedicated supporters of the Heroes Art Ball. At this year’s Heroes Art Ball, Kevin and Lorie remembered a special group of kids who took the stage. If you were there, you probably remember this moment, too. 

At the Heroes Art Ball, we were reintroduced to some of the heroes we met at past Heroes Art Balls. Here they were, years later, on stage before us, to tell their inspiring stories of progress. We were thrilled to see the beaming high school cheerleader and the accomplished photographer whom we first met as children. Now, they have grown into young ladies. A number of these bright and talented young adults are heading off to college and employment, pursuing their dreams of nursing, engineering, and other exciting professions. It was extraordinarily rewarding, heart-warming, and affirming for us! Not every child’s story ends happily, which is why we are committed to Connor’s Heroes. We remain hopeful that within our lifetime we’ll see major breakthroughs and these cancers are eliminated. We are thankful to be able to play our small part. We continue to pray that Connor’s Heroes successfully cares for our community’s childhood cancer heroes. 

“The expressions of support by Connor’s Heroes are remarkable. They are tangible, loving expressions of the care and compassion that the people of Connor’s Heroes have for these kids.”

Connor’s Heroes has a mission that absolutely resonates with us. We have been blessed with two wonderful, healthy sons. We have never taken that for granted and are forever thankful. Though we sympathize deeply, we cannot begin to fathom the physical, emotional, and financial hardships the hero families experience. We are sincerely grateful that Connor’s Heroes exists to support the families in meaningful ways. For us, Connor’s Heroes embodies the precepts of loving our neighbors as we love ourselves, and treating others as we would wish to be treated. That’s something we wish to encourage and support as much as we can!