“Reason this person is a Gold Ribbon Hero: She is a strong little girl. She was diagnosed with ALL leukemia before her second birthday. August 3 2015 she turned 2 August 11. She had her first chemo at memorial hospital in Southbend Indiana on her birthday with a spinal tap also. She has had 16 spinal taps and still gets up and runs the halls after. Her strength amazes me everyday if I could only be as strong as her. She is my hero I want to be like her when I grow up.” – Toni B.

More about Childhood Leukemia Cancers:

• About Childhood Leukemia Cancer – Detection and Diagnosis
• Causes, Risk Factors, and Prevention of Childhood Leukemia Cancer
• What are the signs and symptoms of Childhood Leukemia Cancer?
• Childhood Leukemia Cancer Treatment
• What is the expected life span of Childhood Leukemia Cancer?
• After Treatment – Living as a Childhood Leukemia Cancer Survivor

Learn More About the Different Types of Childhood Cancers:

• Childhood Brain Tumor Cancer (Brain Stem Tumors)
• Spinal Cord Tumor Cancer
• Childhood Neuroblastoma Cancers
• Childhood Hodgkin Lymphoma Cancers
• Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Cancers
• Wilms tumor (Kidney Tumors)
• Rhabdomyosarcoma
• Retinoblastoma
• Bone cancer (including osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma)
• Leukemia Cancers: Acute lymphocytic (lymphoblastic) leukemia (ALL) Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML); Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML)
• Hepatoblastoma (Liver Cancer)
• Rhabdoid Tumors

“Reason this person is a Gold Ribbon Hero: Emma was diagnosed with brain cancer in 1994 at the age of 9.
There isn’t much she hasn’t gone through. She grew up quickly. She grew up within a hospital.
It’s easy to look back and remember all those bad times.
However it is how she continues to live that sets her apart from everyone else.

She graduated from the prestigious Cleveland Institute of Art with her bachelors degree in painting.
Just recently she started the masters program at Kent State University.
However living with cancer is always at the forefront. She volunteers at many pediatric cancer events. She never forgets what she went through.
She is my miracle. She is what pediatric cancer awareness is all about. Living life to the fullness.” – Julia A

“Reason this person is a Gold Ribbon Hero: My son Damon is 12.  He was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 9 Jan. 31, 2014.  He instantly made became a viral sensation when Pharrell Williams sent him a very inspirational video: [https://youtu.be/KtX54oQlLyk]  In the video Pharrell said Damon would do wondrous things and inspire many.  Damon took that to heart.  Damon has never been mad, sad or anything about his cancer.  He had a limb-salvage surgery April 2014.  His entire humerus was dead and he had a massive tumor.  They managed to save his arm.  He then endured another 10 months of very hard chemo.  Jan. 2015 he was declared Cancer Free.  Damon continued to inspire many.  In 2015 He was given the Courage Award from the Sarcoma Foundation of America and the Shining Star Award from The Ferrari Kid.  He became the spokeskid for the WNBA Silver Stars cancer program, San Antonio Rampage, he was part of the advertising campaign for University Health Hospital in San Antonio, he was featured on Entertainment Tonight [https://youtu.be/Jxhls6MaXPc] and more.

November of 2015 the osteosarcoma cancer returned in his arm.  At this point the only way to save his life was the amputate his left arm.  It is a high amputation (cut into his clavicle).  Do you know he told the doctors not to feel bad.  He didn’t want them to hurt or feel bad for having to cut off his arm.  He said he understood and was okay with it.  Yes….he’s only 12!!!

He was in the news in May when he finally met Retired LTC Touchet.  Damon had inspired LTC Touchet for 2 years and the two talked back and forth.  When they met it was very emotional for the two of them:  http://www.ksat.com/news/young-cancer-patient-resilient-spirit-continues-to-inspire

Recently Damon wanted to help the other cancer kids at University Hospital.  He wanted a bell for them to be able to ring when they were done with their chemo treatments and declared Cancer Free.  He admires Firefighters, so he thought a FireTruck Bell would be the best.  Through his efforts, not only did the San Antonio Fire Chief help get Damon a bell, the two of them found a way to not only have this bell be a Beacon of Hope to kids with cancer, but a way to honor those firefighters who passed away with occupational cancer.  On 25 Aug 2016 Damon, the San Antonio Fire Chief and the Mayor of San Antonio, Mayor Ivy Taylor, presented the bell to the hospital: http://news4sanantonio.com/news/local/cancer-survivor-firefighters-donate-cancer-bell-to-university-hospital-08-25-2016

Coming soon he will be featured in a Comic Book from MediKidz to support Osteosarcoma.  He is also writing a book about Cancer for other kids with Cancer to let them know you can still be Happy!   There are Super Heroes and there is Damon!  Damon is by Far, MY HERO!!” – Brian B

“Reason this person is a Gold Ribbon Hero: Well the first 11 months went great we couldn’t ask for better from a 29wk gestation baby. With only little minor colds & fevers with vaccines. A
few weeks before Arie 1st birthday she started wheezing and had on/off fevers.
She was diagnosed with what Dr. was calling “reactive airway” and “upper
respiratory infection.” A few days pass no changes, we return to the Drs only
this time fever not breaking so we walk out the office with another diagnoses of
an ear infections.

On July 8, 2014 after being in the PICU 15days. Arie became our angel and took her last breath. She did not have the lung maturity to fight the pneumonia she was diagnosed with.” – Kimberly G

“Reason this person is a Gold Ribbon Hero: My Grandson Zachary S Hormell is a Gold Ribbon Hero. He battled HCC Pediatric Liver Cancer for 1 1/2 Years and Cancer took his Life on 9-11-2016 But he was such a trooper he never complained or asked why me. He was so strong in his fight But God gave him the ultimate gift and took him Home to Heaven after Cancer ravaged his Body.If you would ask him How he was doing he would say I am Fine.Zachary was in line to get a Liver transplant and when he received his pre surgery scan they found the Cancer had Spread. He celebrated his 13 th Birthday with all his family with him and 3 weeks later he grew his wings on 9-11-2011 His Family misses him so very much. His Mother Larissa, Dad Scott Hormell and 2 brothers Steven and Scott Jr. and 2 Grandmothers Anna Mae and Pamela” – Pamela S

“Reason this person is a Gold Ribbon Hero: Riley has just turned 5 years old and after several tests to find out why she was not feeling well and running a fever, they found Riley has stage 4 neuroblastoma and is also in her bone marrow. Riley is the beautiful daughter of Rick and Kristin Sherman and big sister to Matthew   from La Quinta CA.  Riley has had several tests done on her and has recently had two surgeries to remove a tumor that was pressing on nerves and her spinal cord that had left her unable to walk.  Riley is such a vibrant little girl who even with dealing with this horrible cancer, still always has a smile on her face that would light up a room!  Where this family should have been preparing their baby girl to go to Kindergarten this year,  they were having to prepare her for chemo. Riley will need to have 12-15 months of chemo/radiation and stem cell transfers.  No child should ever have to go through this.” – Kim T

More about Childhood Neuroblastoma Cancers:

• About Childhood Neuroblastoma Cancer – Detection and Diagnosis
• Causes, Risk Factors, and Prevention of Childhood Neuroblastoma Cancer
• What are the signs and symptoms of Childhood Neuroblastoma Cancer?
• Childhood Neuroblastoma Cancer Treatment
• Childhood Neuroblastoma Cancer – Stages and Prognosis
• What is the expected life span of Childhood Neuroblastoma Cancer?
• After Treatment – Living as a Childhood Neuroblastoma Cancer Survivor

Learn More About the Different Types of Childhood Cancers:

• Childhood Brain Tumor Cancer (Brain Stem Tumors)
• Spinal Cord Tumor Cancer
• Childhood Neuroblastoma Cancers
• Childhood Hodgkin Lymphoma Cancers
• Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Cancers
• Wilms tumor (Kidney Tumors)
• Rhabdomyosarcoma
• Retinoblastoma
• Bone cancer (including osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma)
• Leukemia Cancers: Acute lymphocytic (lymphoblastic) leukemia (ALL) Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML); Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML)
• Hepatoblastoma (Liver Cancer)
• Rhabdoid Tumors

“Reason this person is a Gold Ribbon Hero: She sends out care boxes out to kids that have cancer. To cheer them up and take there minds off of whats going on in there life for a little while. She has a web page on face book. Its called CC Care Box.
She collects donations of hand made stuff and store bought from people that are in her group on facebook. She pays the shipping of the boxes out of her own pocket. She does alot of fundraiser. For childhood cancer.” – Dee T

“Reason this person is a Gold Ribbon Hero: Josiah has been fighting cancer since March of 2016. Josiah was only 2&1/2 years old. He was diagnosed with a malignant rhabdoid tumor in his kidney and surrounding area. He has been through 5 rounds of chemo, 100’s of tests, multiple surgeries. He has had way to mantra to count blood, platelet and FFP transfusions. The special thing about Josiah through everything his little body is going through he has done it as much aa possible with a smile on his face. Josiah is my Hero.” – Kristen N

“Reason this person is a Gold Ribbon Hero: Julian has had a brain tumor since the age of 8, he is 15 now. After having multiple surgeries, and losing 75% of his eyesight, he remains a happy, life living child. Nothing gets him down. Julian pushes forward no matter the news. He’s an inspiration to all.” – Jhoana N