At just three months old, Liam was seriously ill. Suffering from a fever and gastrointestinal problems, his mother Mercedes took him to the hospital. Within a few days, Liam was on life support.
Our Hero: Jayden
Born with sickle cell disease, Jayden would often suffer from infections, fevers, and crisis episodes. As he grew older, the disease would limit his ability to play his favorite sport – baseball.
Our Hero: Natalia
Natalia Famous is a 20-something, young adult living with sickle cell disease – a blood disorder that severely weakens the immune system. She was born with the disease and at the age of 10, she suffered a stroke.
Our Hero: Zoey
Imagine being an outgoing 9-year old girl who loves fashion and enjoys playing with your siblings. Then, you learn that you have cancer. That’s precisely what happened to Zoey.
Our Hero: Ian
Ian was a healthy 4-year old visiting the dentist for his first teeth cleaning. After receiving a Novocain injection, a small bump appeared on Ian’s right temple. Over time, the bump grew into a tumor in his cheek and changed the shape of his face.
Our Hero: Jack
Jack was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia just after he graduated from high school. No stranger to tough battles, Jack was born with a rare liver disease and had three liver transplants by the time he was two years old.
Our Hero: Essence
Diagnosed with AML in 2014, Essence was a high school senior looking forward to graduation. Instead, she was faced with cancer and a 40% chance of survival.
Our Hero: Aaron
Growing up, Aaron had a passion for playing sports. But that changed once he was diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in September 2001. He was 10-years-old at the time, and his world was turned completely upside-down.
Our Hero: Robert
As a pitcher on his baseball team, Rob relied on his arms. When he started to experience shoulder pain every time he pitched, he knew something was wrong.
What’s In A Name?
Stacy Kim and Kyle Okimoto, captains of Team GOAT, share how important the support of the Hope & Heroes Walk community (no matter how near or far) is to a patient’s journey.