Meet Elizabeth

Elizabeth is the happiest, silliest little girl you will ever meet. She has always loved life and couldn't wait to see what each new day would bring. Her laughter, silliness and zest for life are contagious. In April of 2013, six year old Elizabeth was diagnosed with Stage 4 Wilms Tumor. As it would for any family, this news crushed her entire family's life. However, it is Elizabeth's strong spirit and silliness that has made this nightmarish journey much easier for everyone. She continues to take each day as it comes and looks forward to her frequent trips to the hospital. As you can imagine, she has made friends with her nurses, Child Life specialists,
and doctors.

Elizabeth has bravely faced 19 weeks of chemotherapy, 12 days of radiation therapy, and an extensive surgery to remove the tumor as well as her right kidney. She has become an amazingly strong little girl!

Elizabeth loves staying in contact with her friends at school (even through she can't go to school right now). She loves My Little Pony, Disney Princesses, playing on the iPad, and playing with her 2 year old sister, Anna! Elizabeth still has 12 more weeks of treatment to endure. During that time we will continue to celebrate each day, thanks to Elizabeth's precious, fun-loving spirit!

Elizabeth's support group : https://www.facebook.com/groups/166320493533117/

Hope Session by : breathless expressions photography

Meet Ari-Anna

Ari-Anna was diagnosed with Wilm's Tumor Stage 3, on March 28, 2013 at age 3. She had surgery on April 1st. to remove her right kidney, which was attach to the tumor and surrounding tissue. The tumor also attached itself to the Vena Cava Artery which needed surgery to repair as well. Her only complaint was "I want to go home". She is home, recovering. She started Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy 5 months ago and she is still smiling and undergoing chemo.

Hope Session by Buatti-Ramos Photography

Meet Noelle

On Tuesday March 12 Noelle started complaining of pain in her left side. In two hours time, she could barely walk. I took her to the ER expecting something that would need an antibiotic and lots of loving.  Instead, what we got is every parents worst nightmare. Our beautiful, amazing little girl was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. The biopsy results came in and she has a Wilms' tumor. This aggressive cancer started in her left kidney and spread to her lungs. Noelle had her left kidney and the tumor removed and her surgery went great! She completed radiation shortly after surgery. On 6/12/13 Noelle had her FIRST CLEAN SCAN!!! Her next scan is scheduled for the end of September so for now we finish with chemo, start kindergarten and wait to get that next clean scan!!! She refuses to lose!!
Noelle's page: Noelle: Fight Like An Ambs Girl
Hope Session by Melania Marta Photography 

Meet Emaleigh

Emaleigh was diagnosed with an extremely rare congenital overgrowth disorder in 4/2010 called CLOVES Syndrome (www.clovesfoundation.org). Her condition has caused significant tumors in her lower body, very thin upper body, overgrown bones in her feet, leg length discrepancy, and large veins. Because of the overgrowth condition, she was at a 7% higher risk for developing Wilms Tumor, so recommended scans were performed every 3 months. Every scan we noticed a change in her left kidney, it was more than double the size of her right kidney, she had small classifications, and the wall of the kidney was very dense. After a bilateral foot amputation (metatarsal), during our routine Ultrasound, we noticed that two tumors formed in the left kidney. After the MRI and biopsy, she was diagnosed with bilateral Wilms Tumor (the first CLOVES patient) on 12/27/11. After 6+ months of Chemotherapy and a left nephrectomy, she is now cancer free and has been for 7 months.
Emaliegh's facebook page: Emaleigh Blankenship's Cloves & Cancer Journey
Hope Session by Andrea Lee Photography

Meet Jazmyn

Jazmyn is a gorgeous 15 year old with a smile that can light up a city and a fabulous attitude to boot! In June of 2012 after a visit with her godmother in Houston, Jazmyn was experiencing some pain in her leg that eventually led to swelling. Visits to her primary care physician and a sports medicine specialist led to multiple scans and a biopsy, and finally a diagnosis of cancer. Jazmyn braved her way through 12 rounds of chemotherapy, as well as surgery to remove the tumor along with part of her tibia and fibula, and a total knee replacement. Unfortunately, after many failed attempts of treatment the wound would not heal, and Jazmyn was given the option of having her leg removed at the knee. Jazmyn decided to go ahead with the removal, proof of the courage this remarkable young lady has! Her beautiful photos include her mom and big sister. Hope Session by Julie Shi Photography.

Meet Helena

Helena was diagnosed in June 2012 with a stage 3, Wilm's tumor. She is 7 years old, which is older than the average Wilm's case, and she had virtually no symptoms until right before it was discovered. Helena's recent scans showed no evidence of disease!
Helean's caringbridge: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/helenaduntley
Images by: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Amanda-Erickson-Design/135420356512601

Meet Brielle

Brielle had her last round of chemo in May 2012! She was diagnosed at 11 months old with stage 5 Wilms tumor. She had to have both kidneys removed. She was on hemodialysis 4 times a week for a four hours a day the first couple months we had her but in September we started peritoneal dialysis (dialysis at home!) She currently has dialysis every night while she sleeps but is doing well health wise she will be eligible for a transplant after being cancer free or two years. She came to us as a foster child in June 2012 and we became her legal guardians on January 23, 2013.
Images by: http://www.christijoguhn.com/

Meet Alex

Alex was diagnosed with Stage IV Wilms Tumor at 5 and went through both radiation and chemo treatment then. After 6 months he was in remission and our family began to recover from what we went through. At almost 2 years of remission we learned that Alex had relapsed. He had a relapse of the original tumor and also another extremely rare (only 7 known cases) benign mass in his spleen. During the surgery to remove the regrown tumor, complications left our precious boy paralyzed from the waist down. Not only was Alex fighting once again for his life, he spent months in several different hospitals and had to undergo rigorous Physical Therapy from the spinal cord injury as well. During all of this, our son was our inspiration. Our faith in God, the Love for our children, and the Hope that we held on to kept us pushing forward with each day. Currently, Alex is again in remission, this time NED. While he uses a wheelchair and walker to get around, he continues to make progress and inspire so many around him. He plays sled hockey, wheelchair basketball, and wants to try any and every sport that is out there. Emotionally he has his days where he voices how things aren't fair, but we all have those. I feel like our family (like many) have been through so much, but we are truly blessed to still have our son to wrap our arms around and want to live each day making the most of every moment.
Alex's website: www.alexjgreen.com
Images by: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Melissa-McCann-Photography/126184307431780?fref=ts