HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

As we conclude our delivery season, we send thanks to Santa, our elves, and the kindness of our wonderful supporters. We had the opportunity to bring a complete Christmas experience to 18 deserving families. This does not account for the recipients who received merry mail, as that figure is considerably larger (stay tuned for that number!).

What an incredible season of giving!​​​​​​​

We had the opportunity to meet Joe. He is currently facing his second fight against cancer, this time with Myeloid Neoplasm. He developed pneumonia and has been relying on oxygen since then. The IV chemotherapy has led t​​​​​​​o organ failure, which has resulted in switching treatment type. On top of that, his wife Kathy, who is not only his best friend but also his primary caregiver, experienced a fall that severely hurt her back. She has been in a rehabilitation center since early November. While they have been relying on their adult daughter for support, the reality of their financial obligations remains difficult. They are putting forth their best efforts and are optimistic about the outcome. He was very thankful for our generous financial support. Please remember to keep Joe and his family in your thoughts and prayers.

We had the pleasure of spending time with Matt and his kids. Matt was diagnosed with Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia back in September, and he has been handling his treatment like a true champion. Right now, he’s awaiting test results to figure out the next steps in his treatment plan. The good news is that it seems like remission might be just around the corner!

Did you think we finished all our deliveries? Not at all! President Renee Copeland had the opportunity to meet Sylvia, an amazing woman who is courageously fighting stage 4 hormone positive metastatic breast cancer at just 29 years old. The cancer has spread to her brain, lungs, and liver, making this journey extremely challenging on all fronts—physically, emotionally, and financially. Recent scans showed treatment is working. The best Christmas gift you can get! She is surrounded by an amazing network of family and friends who are all rallying behind her. Christmas Without Cancer is honored to be included in that community. Let’s keep Sylvia in our thoughts and prayers too!

We got to visit with Jennifer and her son Jaxon. They are still navigating the heartache of losing Jason, their husband and father, who battled cancer with great courage. The holiday season can be especially challenging when you’re facing the sorrow of losing someone dear. We may not be able to take away their grief, but we can continue to show up for them. Once a CWC family, always a CWC family. ​​​​​​​

We managed to spread some holiday joy to Daisy and her family. Daisy is fighting Triple Negative Breast Cancer and is undergoing weekly chemotherapy. She will be on Taxol for 12 weeks, followed by AC every three weeks for another 12 weeks. She has a long road ahead, but she stays optimistic. It was a privilege to bring a few smiles their way.

Patrick received a diagnosis of Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma during the summer. He started his treatment immediately, which involves chemotherapy and radiation. As a dedicated athlete, Patrick is eager to return to the sports he enjoys. He is surrounded by a strong support system and has been embraced by our amazing southside community. Let’s remember this courageous young man in our thoughts and prayers as well. ​​​​​​​

In November 2023, Angela received a diagnosis of Uterine Cancer. She underwent a complete hysterectomy and is currently continuing her chemotherapy treatment. She has undergone some extra tests and scans and is now waiting for the results. She stays optimistic and is surrounded by a wonderful support system with her mom and daughters. The visit was emotional, but it was truly well-deserved. ​​​​​​​

Jack has been diagnosed with B-Cell Leukemia. Unfortunately, he didn’t achieve remission after the initial treatment and is now classified as high-risk. Right now, he is in the consolidation phase of his treatment. Although he has a challenging journey ahead, his mom mentioned that he is handling it like a true champion. All four kids were prepared with their questions for Santa. Let’s add this brave warrior to your thoughts and prayers too. ​​​​​​​

Our next delivery was for Nicole and her family. Nicole is bravely battling multiple myeloma. She has finished 16 weeks of chemotherapy and underwent her first autologous stem cell transplant in September 2024. She is scheduled to have tandem stem cell transplants, with the second one being a donor transplant, expected to occur in January 2025. At the moment, she is on maintenance medication and receiving monthly IVIG to strengthen her immune system. Nicole is a pediatric oncology nurse who is deeply cherished by everyone around her. She is committed to giving back whenever she can. We encouraged her to prioritize her health, assuring her that we’ll always be just a message away. A lovely family. ​​​​​​​

We kicked off our second delivery day with our wonderful friends from James & Sons Fine Jewelers. They contacted us back in October, wanting to adopt a family in memory of a colleague and dear friend, Dalene. We felt that Barbara and her family would be a perfect choice. Barbara is courageously fighting stage 2 grade 3 invasive ductal carcinoma, breast cancer. She is currently undergoing chemotherapy, which is expected to conclude soon, followed by surgery. Barbara said that she can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel and was very appreciative. We were thrilled to have our friends from James and Sons join us. They’ve been loyal supporters for a long time, and it was wonderful for them to be a part of such a special delivery. ​​​​​​​

A couple team members went to visit Jenna and her family. Her story has been on our minds, and we felt compelled to do something “above and beyond” a financial blessing.

Not long after her second child was born, Jenna discovered a lump. When she mentioned it to her ob-gyn, it was brushed off as a clogged milk duct. After seeking a second opinion, she received the same answer. The lump persisted, and during another follow-up with her ob-gyn, she expressed her concerns to the nurse practitioner, and was finally referred for a mammogram.

A biopsy revealed that she had stage II DCIS. After undergoing 8 weeks of chemotherapy and completing 30 radiation sessions, she was declared to be in no evidence of disease.

Over a year later, she began to suffer from intense back pain and decided to visit the emergency room. A CT scan revealed that the cancer had returned to her spine, hips, and tailbone. Further tests showed that it had also spread to her skull, ribs, liver, and lungs. The diagnosis was terminal stage IV metastatic breast cancer.

Jenna shared that her experience with cancer has shown her how crucial it is to stand up for her own health. She is determined not to let fear and sorrow take control. Her resilience is truly motivating.

We told Jenna to talk with her husband and choose a family experience. We’re super excited that this lovely family of four is going to have a weekend in Lake Geneva soon! A perfect choice: creating lasting memories while enjoying a well-deserved getaway.

We think Jenna’s story will resonate with a lot of people. Advocate for yourself. Don’t hesitate to get those second and third opinions. Make sure to book those appointments you have been putting off.

Wishing Jenna and her family all the best. Safe travels to them!

We had the pleasure of meeting Ryan and her three lovely children tonight. Jack is courageously fighting Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis. Being a single mom, has its own set of challenges, especially with a sick little one. YET HERE SHE IS, DOING IT! She was incredibly thankful for our visit and kindness. Let’s keep our new friend Jack and his family in our thoughts and prayers as well. ​​​​​​​

We got to visit with Julie and her family. They welcomed us with delicious snacks, wine, and a few happy tears. This is Julie’s second battle with ovarian cancer, and she’s currently going through multiple chemotherapy treatments and injections to build up her counts. Despite everything, she keeps herself occupied with work and her two kids taking it one day at a time. She was truly grateful for our visit. So deserved. ​​​

Our smallest buddy, Ben, came into the world at just 24 weeks, weighing under 1 pound. He spent a challenging 8 months in the NICU. In March, he faced a tough diagnosis of liver cancer, which led to aggressive treatment including the removal of his gallbladder and half of his liver. After more than 120 days in the hospital recently, he’s finally back home (where he belongs)! At such a young age, Ben has shown incredible strength and perseverance. He has another round of scans coming up this week. His mom has requested some extra prayers, and I believe our community can rally together for him. An incredible family. ​​​​​​​Our team was happy to partner with Miracles for Mya to bring Ben and his family some additional joy this Holiday season.

We had the opportunity to spread some Christmas cheer with Miracles for Mya. Since 2022, Olivia has been undergoing treatment for high-risk B-Cell ALL. She is looking forward to completing her treatment in May. Along the way, she has faced surgery, multiple infections, and extended hospital stays, with her longest being four weeks. She is doing great now, and the family remains positive that these challenges are behind her. Let’s keep Olivia and her family in our thoughts and prayers as she nears the finish line and gets ready to ring that bell. ​​​​​​​

Next on the nice list is Merysa, who has been diagnosed with melanoma and recently underwent significant surgery and reconstruction. She is a young mom with three little ones to care for. She is staying positive and is incredibly grateful to have the support of Christmas Without Cancer and our elves. Let’s keep Merysa and her family in your thoughts and prayers. ​​​​​​​

We kicked off our journey by visiting Freya and her family. Just a few months back, Freya received a diagnosis of B Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-ALL) and recently received her immunotherapy pack. She faces a lengthy treatment period of 2 1/2 years, but the family is taking it one step at a time. Our wonderful volunteer team was surprised with hot chocolate and homemade cookies to fuel us for the busy day ahead. It was a delightful way to begin our journey. Let’s keep Freya and her family in our thoughts and prayers.

We had the chance to visit Hailey and her family with Miracles for Mya. She was diagnosed with a brain tumor on her optic nerve when she was only 18 months old. Now at 6 years old, she’s preparing for more tests. Hailey was so excited to see Santa in her home and proudly showed us her amazing three-story Barbie dream house. Santa confirmed she definitely earned her spot on the nice list. Keep this brave warrior and her wonderful family in your thoughts and prayers.