Troy is a 15-year-old who lives in Pearl River with his parents, Olivia and Martin, and his younger brother, Clint. In 2016, the Murphy family's world changed when Troy went from being thought of as just a bit clumsy to being diagnosed with a rare condition known as Becker Muscular Dystrophy. This progressive and incurable disease affects the muscles of the lower body, shoulders, and heart. Troy is now in a wheelchair, and increasingly struggles to transfer in and out of it. Troy has been to see doctors more than 50 times in the past two years and gets infusions every six months. His medical and physical needs are also growing as he gets older - he needs a hoist to be safely moved from the wheelchair, as well as a stander machine to help his circulation. The Murphy family also needs to make adjustments to their house and find a car that can support Troy's needs. Troy loves having his friends come over and play video games. Troy is also a member of an Irish youth group, the Foroige. The Murphys are deeply appreciative of all the support that will allow Troy to enjoy his teenage years, and continue being a great big brother to Clint!

Christopher is a bright and happy preschooler who lives in Tappan with his mom, dad, and older sister, Brooke.  Now four years old, Christopher was diagnosed with Langerhans Cell Histocytosis (LCH) when he was just turning one.  LCH is a rare cancer that affects his blood and bones - at the time of the diagnosis, Christopher had fractures in his shoulder, spine, and skull due to the aggressive nature of the disease. Christopher had two years of chemotherapy and is currently on "maintenance" medication and requires treatments to keep his LCH at bay. Christopher is still strong and happy and loves playing with his older sister!

Jake  Alongi of Nanuet was born prematurely at 24 weeks on June 3, 2021, weighing 1lb 6oz. He had an identical twin brother, Logan, who passed away after 3.5 weeks from a bowel perforation/sepsis. Shortly after birth, Jake had a bowel perforation and was very sick.  While in the NICU, Jake had 3 major GI surgeries (2 laparotomies, ileostomy, ileostomy reversal, a major umbilical hernia repair, a Gtube placed and another ileostomy). He has also had several life-threatening infections, including NEC at 41 weeks. Jake also suffered a brain bleed shortly after birth which left behind Bi-Lateral Cystic Periventricular Leukomalacia (PVL). Jake spent a total of 200 days in the NICU. In the past year, he has had 2 more major GI surgeries (ostomy reversal and bowel resection for twisted bowel). Jake continues to struggle with Chronic Lung Disease, GI dysmotility disorder, and failure to thrive. Jake is also developmentally delayed. He recently received a diagnosis of Spastic Diplegia Cerebral Palsy.  Despite all this, he is almost always smiling and laughing and is full of life. He is determined to do everything he sets his mind to and is honored to be a recipient.

Julia Sajduk is a five-year-old who lives in Southfields with her parents and two sisters, Riley and Emilia. In March of 2022, Julia's world was turned upside down very quickly and unexpectedly when she stood up one night and fell to the ground in excruciating leg pain, with a fever to follow. No one thought at the time that this visit to the ER would bring such dramatic change to the Sajduk house. Julia went from being a happy, healthy, energetic preschooler to a patient who was tethered to IV poles. She was soon diagnosed with High-Risk Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. The next 18 months were filled with a medical port placement, numerous intrathecal injections of chemotherapy into her spinal fluid, hundreds of chemotherapy infusions, steroids, antibiotics, bone marrow biopsies, blood transfusions, countless hospital admissions, and painful side effects caused by the medications. Julia fought through pancreatitis and foot neuropathy like the true warrior that she is. Her treatment now consists of chemotherapy injected into her spinal fluid every three months, as well as steroids and daily oral chemotherapy. This does not stop Julia from being a happy and kind kindergartener. She fights every day through the fatigue and pain caused by chemo, doing her best to just enjoy being a kid. She is a true example of bravery and strength. Despite all the pain and fatigue that this journey incurs, Julia never forgets to smile. This battle with leukemia has made Julia and her family strong, appreciative, and grateful for the outpouring of love and support from the entire community.

Meet Cassidy Ulrich of West Nyack. At just seven months old, Cassidy was diagnosed with a glioblastoma, a rare form of brain cancer. She had surgery to remove most of the tumor, but as a result, developed epilepsy. She has had multiple operations and is always closely monitored. A new tumor has recently been found and doctors are watching her carefully to determine the best treatment. Despite all of this, Cassidy is a delightful preschooler and adoring big sister!

Meet Daniel Stewart of Valley Cottage. Now a 6th grader in Nyack, Daniel was born prematurely at 28 weeks and was not expected to live for more than 2 days. Daniel fought back and beat the odds, but developed an array of medical issues - he was diagnosed with Cricopharyngeal Dysphagia and Chronic Lung Disease. After a variety of medical treatments, including surgeries, Daniel has come a long way down a difficult road and his bravery and resilience is an inspiration.

Dominik was born a seemingly healthy baby boy with no issues. However, when he was 2 months old, his mother Brittany took him to the pediatrician when she began to feel something wasn't right. After conducting an ultrasound, Dominik was taken to Westchester Medical Center where his vitals and labs showed irregularities and that his tiny body was in distress. They intubated him that day and placed him into an induced coma. Dominik was soon diagnosed with Cellular MesoBlastic Nephroma, a rare tumor in the kidney cortex. Surgeons removed the tumor and his left kidney, after which Dominik was placed on 24-hour dialysis. He also suffered a small stroke during this time. Currently, Dominik's right kidney is working at only 47% capacity. He gets tested bi-weekly for protein in his urine to make sure his only kidney is filtering correctly. He also has ultrasounds bi-weekly to make sure the tumor is not growing back, and is on both kidney and blood pressure medication. Dominik's future is uncertain, and his doctors fear that he may need a kidney transplant if his condition does not improve. He also developed hydrocephalus, which is a buildup of fluid in the brain that puts extra pressure on it and can result in brain damage. Because of this, Dominik developed a swelling of his optical nerve that damaged his eyesight. Dominik now has an internal shunt in his head that drains the excess fluid into his body, which is monitored once a month via MRI. Dominik has a long road ahead of him. Since he is only an infant the doctors can only do certain tests on him for his cognitive and developmental functioning. Only time will tell how he is doing. Even though Dominik has an uncertain future, he has a wonderful family that is there with him every step of the way.

Mae Cunningham is a happy, spirited eight year old girl that adores her family, friends, and the entire Pearl River community. Mae considers herself a proud Evans Park Tiger! She enjoys spending her time playing a variety of sports, engaging in community functions with her Girl Scout troop, and just being a silly kid with her peers. On October 2, 2022, Mae suffered a stroke that impacted her mobility on the right side of her body and her speech. She underwent multiple surgical procedures at Westchester Medical Center and is currently in Blythedale Children's Hospital receiving extensive physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Mae’s incredible spirit and optimism are the fuel to her successful recovery. Her ultimate goal is not only to regain normal function of her body, but to use this experience as a source of inspiration for others facing traumatic medical challenges.

Jhenaé is a beautiful 2 year old girl fighting a very tough battle. A few days after her first birthday, Jhenaé's parents heard the worst news imaginable after taking their child  for a medical checkup. The doctors said “We think your daughter has a rare form of childhood cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma...” and instantly everything around them moved in slow motion as they went through denial. After getting second and third opinions from other medical institutions and conducting in-depth research on their own, Kirk and Jodi-Ann finally accepted the diagnosis of rhabodomyosarcoma, a rare malignant tumor in the soft cells of the body. They decided to take  Jhenaé  to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for continuous and intensive treatments, which she is still currently undergoing. Jhenaé is Kirk and Jodi-Ann’s first child, their greatest blessing, and their found purpose in life. Jhenaé is so resilient as she goes through her extensive regimens of surgeries, chemotherapies, and radiation - she always has a beautiful smile, despite the pain and sleepless nights she faces at times. Jhenaé loves watching preschool learning videos and cartoons with music and dances. Fortunately, there is a light at the end of the tunnel and, with the help of everyone praying for Jhenaé, the Faircloughs trust that God is taking good care of her and is healing her completely.  Even though it’s hard at times, Kirk and Jodi-Ann remain strong and positive for Jhenaé.

Teagan Walsh was diagnosed with high risk neuroblastoma in July 2018 at just two years old. This beautiful little girl initially went through six rounds of high dose chemotherapy, stem cell collection, major resection surgery, stem cell transplant, twelve rounds of radiation and then six rounds of immunotherapy when she was officially in remission. Sadly, in just six short months she relapsed and had to undergo another fifteen rounds of radiation to try to clear a spot in her leg. Unfortunately her disease had spread and so she endured yet another seven rounds of chemo and immunotherapy. As soon as Teagan was medically clear, her loving family, including her little sister Quinn, moved to Orangeburg so that she could start a vaccine trial in an effort to help prevent further relapses. But just before starting the vaccines, Teagan relapsed again and so far has undergone another six rounds of combined chemo and immunotherapy. Teagan’s parents are still trying to find a cure for their beloved five year old who inspires all those who meet her.

On April 8th 2020, during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, then 11 year old Louis Caputo of Orangeburg woke up with some concerning symptoms. By four o’clock that afternoon, the Cottage Lane Elementary School student was transported to Valley Hospital and then to Hackensack Medical. Sadly, it was evident that he needed surgery to have one of his kidneys removed. Two days later Louis was operated on and was diagnosed with having Wilms Tumor, a form of Kidney Cancer and in Stage 2. Louis started 14 weeks of grueling chemotherapy and other procedures. His prognosis is currently good and he has a great attitude. Unfortunately due to Louis’s Chemo treatment and being immune compromised his Doctors advised his parents to keep he and his brother Angelo out of in-person schooling. Louis is a kind and caring 12 year old kid who always wants to help others and makes sure everyone is feeling good. He loves playing video games with his brother, loves the Seattle Seahawks, and is an avid New York Yankees fan. Louis has promised his Mom that he will “hit cancer out of the park!”

Elijah Torres was born with a tethered spinal cord as well as a cyst on the lower part of the spinal cord, which he recently underwent surgery to remove. At just 3 months old, Elijah was the youngest person ever to be diagnosed with Bainbridge-Ropers Syndrome. This very rare neurological disease does not only cause severe developmental delays, but also comes with other symptoms such as gastrointestinal difficulties, seizures, hypotonia, autism, slow weight gain, behavioral disturbances, and more. Another common obstacle is feeding difficulties, which is why Elijah had a feeding tube placed when he was diagnosed. Commonly, children with Bainbridge-Ropers are nonverbal and unable to walk, but it is still too early to tell if Elijah will have these symptoms. Doctors don’t know much about this disease as only about 250 people in the world have been diagnosed to date. Elijah recently turned two, and still cannot sit up without assistance. He gets multiple therapies each week to help him with his condition. Elijah rarely makes eye contact and does not respond to his name. He is able to briefly track an object, but cannot track a face very well. His parents are not sure if their beloved little boy can even recognize them, but remain hopeful. Throughout his battle with this disease he continues to be such a pleasant and happy little boy. Elijah lives in Valley Cottage with his loving family.

Skylar Hurley was born on November 14, 2017. As an infant, Skylar hit all her milestones on time and led a pretty happy life. One day, her mother Amanda noticed that Skylar had stopped making eye contact and was no longer acting like the giddy girl everyone knew. Shortly after, doctors diagnosed young Skylar with Rett Syndrome. Rett Syndrome is a genetic brain disorder with symptoms that include, but are not limited to, problems with language, coordination, and repetitive movements. There is currently no known cure. Amanda has had to give up her career in the medical field to be a full time stay-at-home mom and aide for Skylar, leaving all financial burdens to Skylar's father James. Being the only source of income, James is burdened with having to work extensive hours of overtime to support Skylar’s medical needs, since insurance does not cover many of the expenses. Her parents have hopes and dreams of one day seeing Skylar walk and talk, and finally hearing the sound of her beautiful voice when she is one day able to simply say, “mommy, daddy.”

Jelien Sirenma Ramos, also known as "Baby" by her family and "Beans" by friends, is 3 years old and the youngest of 7 children. On January 25th 2019, a little over a month after turning 3, Jelien was rushed to the ER at Maria Fareri Children's Hospital, with suspicion of a low platelet count accompanied by an ongoing fever that reached as high as 106 degrees. After getting the blood cultures back, Jelien received an emergency blood and platelet transfusion as her body did not have the necessary defenses. After a bone marrow biopsy on January 30th 2019, Jelien was diagnosed with B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). The following day Jelien went into surgery to get a port placed on her chest, which is used to administer chemo treatments and obtain blood cultures. Jelien is on several medications and has had many chemotherapy treatments that have weakened her little body. Jelien loves spending time with her family and enjoys going to the park, singing and dancing. Her family and friends have built strong bonds together and have faith that this Warrior Princess will come out victorious!

Riley Reynolds is a 2 1/2 year old from West Nyack, who was diagnosed with Craniosynostosis at 2 months old. Craniosynostosis is a condition in which the bones in an infant's skull grow together too early, causing problems with brain growth and head shape. Riley's first surgery was at 6 months old. Since then she has had 7 surgeries in total, and has spent numerous weeks in the hospital due to infections she got from the surgeries. In her most recent surgery, all of the hardware had to be removed due to infection. She now has numerous open holes in her skull, which will be fixed in a major surgery down the road when she regains all her strength. Riley loves spending time with her family, especially her big brother Michael, who always makes her happy. Through all the surgeries and hospital stays she always has a smile on her face, and, thanks to everyone who has helped her get to where she is today, is truly a Warrior.

Kieran O'Neill is a 9 year old from Pearl River who is a fraternal twin with his brother Padraig. Kieran was diagnosed with autism five years ago after he underwent dramatic changes in his condition subsequent to back-to-back strep throat infections. He has since been diagnosed with PANDAS, a pediatric neuropsychiatric disorder associated with strep infections. To lessen the possibility of strep, Kieran's tonsils were removed in 2016, but he still has sustained 29 documented strep infections that have drastically impacted his well-being. Before his diagnosis, Kieran had been a typical, active little boy - but at 4 1/2 years old, autism set in and he became non-verbal. With relentless effort, Kieran has learned to communicate through modified sign language, but his autoimmune deficiency makes him vulnerable and sickly. Kieran's family keeps searching for treatments to help him, many of which are not covered by insurance. They are hopeful that one day Kieran can have a better quality of life.

Four year old Elle Fishman is from Piermont NY. She was born with Cerebellar Hypoplasia, a neurological condition that occurs when the cerebellum is underdeveloped. This disease causes severe delays in developing speech, learning to walk, and balance. As such, Elle cannot yet talk, stand ,or walk on her own. She is a very smart, strong and brave girl who wants to be independent and just like her friends. She doesn't get discouraged and always tries to do the most that she can do!

Sebastian Scully is a lively seven year old from Valley Cottage who was diagnosed with Eosinophilic Esophagitis, a rare chronic allergic reaction inflammatory disease for which there is currently no cure. It involves different methods of treatment to relieve the pain and symptoms, including specialized nutrients and medications.  Despite all this, Sebastian doesn't complain and is a happy student at Valley Cottage Elementary. He would like to be a Fireman like his Dad when he grows up!

Molly McGovern of Blauvelt, NY is a 2016 graduate of Tappan Zee High School and is currently studying early childhood education at Rockland Community College. When Molly was 14 months old, she was diagnosed with a pineoblastoma, a type of malignant brain tumor. She had surgery to remove the tumor and then underwent chemotherapy with autologous stem cell rescue. She made a full recovery. However, early in 2016, Molly began experiencing headaches. An MRI showed that she had a large mass pressing on her brainstem. Surgery performed on May 13, 2016 was able to remove 90% of the tumor, which was diagnosed as a benign meningioma. Molly recovered from surgery and was able to attend her senior prom and graduate on time with her class. The remaining tumor was treated with gamma knife radiation in July. The tumor, surgery, and radiation has left Molly with some paralysis in her face, hearing, etc. - she will need to receive services to help her recover what she has lost and requires constant surveillance by her doctors to check for tumor regrowth. This care, on top of the surgical and radiation costs she has already received, can be quite costly. Molly continues to be an inspiration to her classmates and others in the community who have needed help.

Noah Diaz of Congers, NY is 5 years old and the youngest of 5 children.  He was born with a severe heart condition known as Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome as well as Double Aortic Arch, and already has had three open heart surgeries. Noah also has a rare genetic syndrome known as Kabuki, with developmental delays, generalized hypotonia and hypoglycemia episodes. As a result, he requires extensive medical treatments. He has monthly EKGs to monitor his heart as he will possibly need a heart transplant when he is older. Given the condition of his heart, even a simple cold can require oxygen treatments and doctor visits.   Noah also goes to extensive therapies:  physical, occupational, and speech to help with his development and muscle tone. Despite all of his health issues, Noah is the happiest, most loving and most lovable little boy ever and is an eager kindergartener at Laurel Plains in New City.

Gabriella Carney is a delightful two and a half year old from Tappan who lives with a rare genetic liver disease called Glycogen Storage Disease (GSD). Those with GSD suffer from critically low blood sugar that can drop very quickly and without any warning. Without around the clock management, low blood sugar from GSD can lead to seizures, coma and life threatening issues. Life with GSD means never taking a break and never getting a day off, as the risk of low blood sugar is ever-present and something as simple as the common cold can become an emergency. Since her diagnosis in September 2015, Gabriella has battled with persistent low blood sugar, multiple hospitalizations, and other medical issues associated with the disease. In order to maintain metabolic control, Gabriella's parents check her blood sugar and ketones (with a finger stick) no less than 8 times a day (and often much more during illness), and routinely test her blood. She drinks large doses of cornstarch and protein powder every few hours, night and day, to provide her body with the backup source of energy needed to keep her blood sugar in a safe range. Gabriella goes for yearly liver sonograms and routine blood work every 3 months. Gabriella is the best little sister to her brother Matthew and brings joy every day to her loving family.

Born and raised in Tappan, NY, Heather Matthews is a 14 year old special needs student at Tappan Zee High School. When she was just 2 years old, Heather contracted viral encephalitis, resulting in a traumatic brain injury. Her life changed overnight as she regressed to a newborn and was paralyzed entirely on her left side. Heather has a seizure disorder that continues to be a daily challenge as she can experience up to 30 petit-mal seizures on any given day. Although her paralysis has improved with time through extensive therapy,  her left side weaknesses include her leg, arm, vision, and speech. She continues to have no use of her left hand. Heather’s family is always searching for ways to help her adapt and improve her left side, as well as for treatments to help with the effects of the damage that was done to her brain.

Fieldstone Middle School student Aiyanna Faria was diagnosed with Dyke-Davidoff-Masson syndrome in 2009. This rare condition is characterized by unilateral atrophy of cerebral hemispheres, enlargement of the ipsilateral sulci, ventricles, and cisternal spaces, decrease in the size of ipsilateral cranial fossae, overdevelopment of paranasal sinuses and mastoid air cells, and unilateral thickening of the skull. The effects include seizures, facial asymmetry, contralateral hemiparesis and mental retardation. In simple terms, one side of her brain shrinks while the other side grows as she does. The original doctor who diagnosed "Nena", as she is lovingly called, can no longer treat her due to insurance changes. The family was able to find a doctor to implant a vagal nerve stimulator to help lessen the seizures, but this has not been as successful as they had hoped. Nena currently has 10-15 seizures a day. These seizures are starting to be grand mal types, which cause dizziness, migraines and vomiting. As such, Nena takes strong medication to cope. Several recent tests show no brain function on the left side of her brain. Now, with as many seizures as she is having and the amount of time that has passed, the right side is starting to be affected - she has been having a very hard time with memory in the past few months. Despite all her challenges, Nena is fun and loving and has maintained a positive attitude. She's a go-getter and will do almost anything just to be a normal 13 year old. Although her family understands that there is no cure, they want to give her as much time as they possibly can, and let her do as much as she can with as little effect from her treatment and disease as possible.  She deserves to be able to live her life as normally as possible. Unfortunately for Nena, her "normal" is 10-15 siezures a day, and she has never had a seizure-free day since her diagnosis. Despite this, Nena’s heart is as big as the world. She won't let her mom cut or even trim her hair because IF she has to undergo brain surgery, she wants to donate her hair to a child with cancer.

Bridget Kunz of Congers, NY was brought to the emergency room at Westchester Medical Center last April after her parents noticed that she had become pale and fatigued. A blood test showed very low red blood cell counts, white blood cell counts, and platelets. Bridget received her first blood transfusion that night. On May 5th, 2015, at just 4 years old, she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (A.L.L.), and was sent to the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center for treatment. Bridget was sent home from the hospital in mid-May to continue her treatment as an outpatient. However, she was home for only 5 days before suffering from a seizure, and was immediately taken back to the hospital by ambulance. The oncology team determined that the seizure was caused by blood clots in her brain that had developed as a result of one of the chemotherapy medications she received. So now, in addition to all of the chemotherapy Bridget receives, she also has to have blood thinner injections twice a day due to the clots. Bridget still has a very long road ahead of her, which will be filled with many chemotherapy infusions, spinal taps, bone marrow aspirations, and MRIs. Doctors estimate she will have to undergo about 2 more years of treatment. Despite all of this, Bridget is still the happy, fun, creative, and silly girl that she was before her diagnosis. She is also a terrific big sister to her 2-year old twin siblings, Connor and Shannon.

Khloe Berry of Valley Cottage, aka Khloworm, is a bright, charming two year old who began having uncontrollable seizures after her first birthday. These seizures come multiple times a day and vary in severity, and they have impacted Khloe’s ability to talk, There are 73 known causes of seizure disorders and it is important to find out which one has affected Khloe. If the wrong treatment is used, it can be fatal. Khloe had a close call this summer after the wrong treatment was applied and she had to be hospitalized. This testing is exhaustive, expensive, and not covered by insurance. The current treatments that Khloe is getting dulls her mind and makes her lethargic. Khloe's mom and dad are also looking for a service dog that can anticipate her seizures and alert them when they start, especially during the night.

Brian is a 4 year old boy from Sparkill who was diagnosed this summer with ataxia-telangiectasia, a very rare genetic condition that affects only 500 children in the United States. The disease often results in muscular dystrophy, cerebal palsy, cancer, and immune deficiency all at the same time. Brian will most likely be in a wheelchair by the age of 10, and faces many medical challenges. Sadly, there is no cure for ataxia-telangiectasia at this time, but as with all rare diseases, Brian's family is encouraged by research into treatment that would help children with A-T and other similar diseases.

Clara Ryan of Piermont was diagnosed with Lymphatic Malformation (LM) a few weeks before she was born. At just three days old, she had a tracheostomy tube and a G-tube placed so that she would be able to breathe and eat. LM causes cysts to grow uncontrollably and these can impact her airway, cause growths on her face, and impact her vision, her muscles and tongue. As a result, this beautiful four year old gets physical, occupational, vision, and speech therapy. Clara also requires frequent, ongoing surgeries for the LM, some of which have to be postponed as she is more susceptible to infections through her trach. Clara is an inspiration to all children whose illness makes them look different as her family is committed to teaching other children to be accepting and aware of these medical differences.

Danny van Schaik, a Suffern Middle School 7th grader with a mischievous grin, has a relentlessly savage type of Leukemia. The treatment includes chemotherapy and direct brain radiation. Danny has been hospitalized 7 times, almost died 4 times, experienced blood clots in his heart and lungs, and lost the ability to walk 3 times. Bravely, he has endured four major surgeries, countless spinal taps and bone marrow aspirations. With 10 months of brutal treatment to go, Danny manages to keep up with school and pushes himself in the gym. Danny is a fighter with a wicked sense of humor - all the makings of an exceptional young man.

Sangeetha is an animated, friendly senior at Tappan Zee High School who was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor when she was only seven years old.  Since then, Sangeetha has undergone a vast number of medical treatments, including chemotherapy, which in her own words, “ended her childhood.”  Yet Sangeetha’s optimistic spirit asserted itself, even through another devastating diagnosis of severe juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, which requires its own type of chemotherapy. Sangeetha’s arthritis is extremely painful, and drastically limits her movement and agility.  She is in need of daily physical therapy alongside the medication that she takes every day.  Even though her mobility is impaired, Sangeetha finds happiness in her pursuit of computer graphics, which allow her to express her creativity while not causing her severe pain. Sangeetha’s family include her parents, her older sister who was inspired to pursue a medical career because of her sister’s struggle, and a spirited younger brother. Sangeetha also has extended family in Mumbai and Bhopal.

Isabella is a beautiful four year old from nearby Harrington Park, NJ who was diagnosed with a childhood cancer involving a neuroblastoma. Although surgery removed this malignant tumor, Isabella developed a rare autoimmune disorder and suffered many relapses. Specialists from Chicago and Memorial Sloane Kettering coordinate care for Isabella, which includes chemotherapy, daily injections, and medications. The Ruggiero family suffered more tragedy a few months ago, when Isabella's mom sustained a neck injury on Labor Day 2012, which has left her paralyzed. Throughout her treatment, Isabella remains a happy child that inspires those around her.

Max and Bree Hershkowitz of New Hempstead, NY are fiercely independent nine year old fraternal twins who were delivered prematurely at 26 weeks. Max suffered a stroke in infancy, leaving him partially paralyzed with Cerebral Palsy. He has had several intricate brain surgeries and will need more in the future. Bree sustained a dangerous preemie baby ailment that caused a massive rupture to her small intestine, leading to much of it being removed. Bree has had ten life threatening surgeries, with the possibility of more in the future. Both children have learning challenges, but are thrivers more than survivors. Max's favorite phrase is "Don't help me, I can do it!" and these twins are truly a dynamic duo.

Alex was a popular outgoing 4th grader at Valley Cottage Elementary School when he began to suffer from sharp headaches. Exhaustive testing revealed that Alex had an extremely rare type of mixed cell brain tumor. He soon underwent months of treatment until finally a doctor had to be sent in from India to operate as this type of tumor is so unusual. Just before surgery, a preoperative MRI showed that Alex's tumor had shrunk! A new course of treatment was decided on including a cutting edge radiation treatment that requires Alex to go to Boston.  Alex is incredibly positive and perhaps this is due to his loving mother, brothers, and sister. Alex is looking forward to getting well and being able to go back to school.

Francesco is an active 7th grader at Pearl River Middle School. This past summer, Francesco was diagnosed with leukemia after his mom noticed unusual bruising on her athletic son. Francesco began aggressive treatment immediately and is facing his medical challenges with great optimism and spirit. Francesco is working hard to get well so that he can return to school with his classmates. He is excited about being able to go to Pearl River High School next year to be with his older brothers.

Haley was a healthy active 5th grader when she broke her leg while playing. The doctors found a tumor in her femur and Haley was diagnosed with osteosarcoma. Haley was treated with ten months of chemotherapy, but eventually the difficult decision to amputate the leg had to be made. Haley was fitted with a prosthetic that goes all the way up to her left hip, and has made great progress learning to walk and do everyday activities with her new leg. She still goes to physical therapy, but happily has been able to return to the middle school where she is a 6th grader. Haley has faced her battles heroically with humor and determination. The family’s medical bills and related costs, including the astronomic price of a prosthetic leg, are not completely covered by insurance. As Haley grows she will need new prosthetics, and has in fact already outgrown her first one. We hope to be able to support Haley and her family as she continues her recovery.

Tyler was only three years old when his mom noticed that his color wasn’t what it should be. Tyler was taken to the hospital, where he was found to have dangerous levels of liver enzymes and the long difficult task of finding a diagnosis began. The actual diagnosis was elusive as doctors tried to find a cause for his elevated liver enzymes. It was unknown if the problem was liver failure or hematological failure.  The frustrating search and wait for a diagnosis led the Tobin family to six different hospitals. Finally, it was ultimately determined that Tyler’s illness was caused by PNH, a disease previously only documented in adults. This bone marrow failure syndrome requires chemotherapy and a transplant that was done in November 2010. Tyler has been responding well to the transplant, but there is still a long way to go.  The Penguin Plunge will help support Tyler as he starts to get those white blood cells dancing and makes a recovery from his illness.

In the fall of 2008, Mickey Reeves was like any other ten-year-old boy. He was strong, healthy, a great ball player, and an avid fan of sports. He was a 2008 All Star Player for South Orangetown Little League and joined his CYO and REC teammates in many basketball tournaments. He was popular among his peers.  Above all, Mickey was an exceptional student and a pleasure to be around.  So it came as a surprise when he started to get headaches, nausea, and anxiety.  His family explored the cause of these symptoms without success. On January 8th 2009, Mickey awoke his mother and she knew this was something serious. They took one more trip to the pediatrician and a CT scan was quickly ordered.  The scan revealed a mass in Mickey's brain. Mickey and his family was directed by the pediatrician to go directly to Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital in NYC, where a team of doctors awaited their arrival. Further testing confirmed every parents' worst fear - Mickey had a brain tumor. It was diagnosed as cancer-Medulloblastoma. Mickey immediately had surgery for the placement of a shunt in his brain to drain fluid that had been trapped due to the growth on his cerebellum. On January 12th, Mickey underwent a seven hour brain operation and the surgeon was able to remove 99% of the tumor. Mickey then underwent 6 weeks of radiation and a 44-week session of chemotherapy. He had started to recover, and then suddenly started deteriorating. More testing determined that he had a duodenal ulcer, which was bleeding and resulted in an emergency surgery, which thankfully was successful. Mickey was finally on his road to recovery, but due to the seriousness of his tumor and the massive GI bleed, he remained very weak.  Mickey has lost the entire use of his left side and needs to learn how to walk all over again. Despite the complications and the setbacks, Mickey remains an optimistic happy young man.

Sean is a 7 year old little boy who is fighting cancer for the second time in his short little life. In September of 2004 Sean was diagnosed with ALL Leukemia at the age of 2 1/2 years old. He went through 2 1/2 years of chemotherapy, many medications, and countless operating room procedures for bone marrow biopsies and spinal chemotherapy. He came through it like a champ!! Sean was cancer free for a little over two years. Upon one of his 6 month routine check-ups this past May with his oncologist, it was discoverd that Sean's cancer had returned. This was devastating news to the DePatto family.  Sean spent 5 weeks in the hospital to begin chemotherapy again. He has had numerous hospital admissions since then. Because this is a relapse, doctors have to go after this cancer much more intensely.  The DePatto family will be doing mainly in-patient treatment for the first 18 months. Sean will have more intense chemotherapy, take many more medications, and undergo many operating procedures - too many for his family to count. Sean is an inspiration to his family, friends,  and many others for all that he has gone through and will be going through. He is a very strong, tough little boy with a big heart.

At three months old, the Gankiewicz family learned that their daughter Ashley had a disorder known as Neurofibromatosis Type 1. At the age of two, Ashley was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor on the optic nerve. After 60 weeks of chemotherapy, the tumor was stabilized, but Ashley still battles a range of medical issues. She has spontaneous tumors that can pop up anywhere and has already had to have four surgeries by the time she was six. Ashley visits eight different doctors every three to four months and needs MRIs with sedation at least two times a year. Despite everything she has gone through in her young life, Ashley remains positive and continues to brighten the world of those around her. The proceeds of the Penguin Plunge will go towards Ashley’s health care bills and out of pocket expenses, which average more than $25,000 per year.

In 2001, Alan and Anne Marie Monahan delivered healthy twin girls, Grace and Emma.  While still in the hospital, Emma contracted bacterial meningitis which has severely debilitated her ever since. With great fortune, Emma survived, but with many disabilities that do not allow her to hold herself up or even to feed herself. Due to her condition, Emma requires much medical and therapeutic help. Though she doesn't communicate by talking, Emma lets her feelings be known through her laughter, her smiles, her coos and her shouts.  Everybody loves her so much and Emma is an inspiration to all.