Stories

Every child has a story, and every story reminds us why our mission matters.

Below are just a few of the incredible children and families whose lives have been impacted by our beneficiaries, along with countless others whose stories may not be shared here. Each child's name includes a dropdown where you can read more about their journey. If you have a few moments, we encourage you to take the time to read their stories. Their courage, resilience, and unwavering strength are a powerful reminder of why we do what we do and why your support makes such a meaningful difference every day.

"Kourageous Kid" Aliyana

Aliyana is one of ASK's Kourageous Kids. The Kourageous Kid campaign is a month-long tribute to share quotes and portraits of childhood cancer patients and survivors to spread awareness and to advocate for more support. Please take a few minutes to read Aliyana's story below.

Pediatric cancer doesn't just affect the patient; it affects the whole family. Many families need to travel out of state for their children to get the help they need. Donating to ASK helps provide families with the resources and care they need.

Meet ASK's Kourageous Kid Aliyana

For three-year-old Aliyana, the world is a playground. She loves spending her days running, climbing, and playing at the park. But everything changed when a persistent leg pain began interrupting her adventures. "It's hard to advocate for a toddler with a limited vocabulary who can only say that their leg hurts," her mom, Liana, shared. At first, doctors struggled to determine the cause. Bloodwork, emergency room visits, and orthopedic appointments provided no clear answers, and the pain seemed to come and go without explanation.

After a whirlwind ten days of uncertainty, Aliyana developed a fever and her family sought a second opinion at a different emergency room. This time, doctors performed a full workup that revealed the devastating diagnosis: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). "It went from zero to leukemia in a matter of hours," her mother recalled. Since her diagnosis, Aliyana's life has revolved around 28-day treatment cycles and frequent medical appointments. Despite the challenges, she has responded well to treatment and is currently in remission. Through it all, Aliyana has maintained her bright personality, discovering a love for arts and crafts, getting her nails painted, and bringing joy to those around her.

ASK's Role in Aliyana's Life

ASK became part of Aliyana's journey almost immediately after her diagnosis while she was still receiving inpatient care. As her family adjusted to the realities of childhood cancer, ASK provided support, resources, and guidance to help them navigate the road ahead. "ASK has definitely made life better," Liana shared. "Just having that support means so much." ASK has helped bridge the gap between medical treatment and everyday life, ensuring Aliyana's family knows they are never facing this journey alone.

One of the ways ASK continues to support Aliyana is through its FIRST-Step Preschool Program. Aliyana recently completed her first year in Mrs. Susan's Owl Class, where she has been able to develop friendships, build confidence, and continue learning despite the challenges of treatment. The specialized preschool program helps children affected by cancer strengthen social, emotional, and academic skills while preparing for a successful transition to kindergarten. Her teacher describes her as "delightful," noting her enthusiasm for learning, compassion for classmates, and infectious giggle. Through programs like FIRST-Step, community support, and family-centered resources, ASK helps children like Aliyana continue to thrive while focusing on what matters most—being kids.

Wesley's Story

Turning lemons into LemonAid

by Alissa Poole

Last Christmas, while many kids were enjoying holiday treats, Jade and Roland Haskins were doing their best to limit their son Wesley’s intake of cookies, popsicles and other sugary treats. Their efforts weren’t part of an early New Year’s resolution or attempt at a healthier lifestyle but rather, part of a journey that brought them to CHoR earlier that month – a journey that has included multiple imaging tests, inpatient and outpatient cancer treatments and an invitation for Wesley to be the 2024 LemonAid Ambassador.

As Ambassador, Wesley will represent CHoR during Anthem LemonAid, a weekend event where lemonade stands are set up across the region to benefit the hospital’s hematology and oncology services. Wesley, who will turn 5 in May, will help promote the 24th annual event, scheduled for July 19-21, visit local stands and encourage others to support the hospital.

The journey begins

In December 2023, when Wesley began limping, Jade and Roland thought he may be experiencing growing pains. But when the limp returned with pain, Wesley’s pediatrician requested an x-ray, which showed a lesion on his leg bone. Within a few days, the family traveled from their Fredericksburg home to CHoR where Wesley saw orthopedic specialists and had a CT with sedation, a common practice to keep children still during the procedure.

“We were worried it could be cancer or a bone infection,” Jade recalled. “When doctors said they were going to do an unplanned MRI, we had an inkling that maybe it was something more.”

The two tests showed a mass on his adrenal gland, a lesion on his leg and spots on his lungs. Doctors scheduled a biopsy for the next week.

“We were so worried,” remembered Jade. “We knew it wasn’t good.”

Getting a diagnosis

To determine exactly where the cancer was located in Wesley’s body, doctors scheduled a PET scan, an imaging test to examine the function of tissues and organs, for December 26.

While Jade described the holidays as a “waiting game,” she said, with support of extended family, they made the best of the situation, and Wesley had a great Christmas – even though the PET scan required him to limit sugar the day before.

On December 27, Wesley was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, the most common soft tissue cancer in kids. He was immediately admitted to CHoR and received his first dose of chemotherapy the next day. While Wesley’s initial treatment plan was 54 weeks, within a month, Roland said, “his cancer mutated in a favorable way, and his treatment plan was reduced to 42 weeks.”

Wesley receives weekly outpatient chemotherapy and is admitted to the inpatient unit every three weeks for more intensive treatment. During the overnight stays, Jade and Roland are able to stay with him in the Children’s Tower’s private rooms. Every 12 weeks, doctors reassess his condition to determine if he’ll need radiation or surgery.

Putting kids first

From the playdoh, Lego bricks and Spiderman pillow case in the pre-op suite before his sedated procedures to the activities provided in the outpatient clinic, Jade and Roland appreciate the kid-focused environment at CHoR.

“At Children’s Hospital, they are kids first and patients second,” Roland stated.

To support parents, a nurse navigator is assigned to all hematology and oncology patients to coordinate appointments and answer any questions families may have. For families who have to travel for care, being able to schedule multiple appointments on the same day is especially helpful.

“When you hear the word ‘cancer,’ you don’t know where to start,” said Roland. “Our nurse navigator handled everything. From day one, we’ve been in good hands.”

Less than two months after coming to CHoR, Wesley was chosen as LemonAid Ambassador. Describing Wesley as an “entertainer and people person,” Jade said he’s excited about his role and being featured in this magazine.

Despite having days where he’s tired or has a poor appetite, Wesley has had minimal side effects from his treatment. That gives him more time for the things he loves, including playing outside, building with blocks and enjoying all things related to trains. He loves to talk about riding the Santa train last year, visiting the train station and knowing the difference between passenger and freight trains – “passenger trains have schedules.”

“Wesley’s energy has been through the roof lately,” Roland said this winter. “We can tell his treatments are helping. He’s doing what a 4-year-old should be doing.”

"Kourageous Kid" Colin

Colin is one of ASK's Kourageous Kids. The Kourageous Kid campaign is a month-long tribute to share quotes and portraits of childhood cancer patients and survivors to spread awareness and to advocate for more support. Please take a few minutes to read Colin's story below.

Colin's Story

Meet ASK's Kourageous Kid Colin

Six years ago, in Charlottesville VA, Colin had just started kindergarten. "He had a lot of bone and abdominal pain at night; it got better during the day, but it was most nights, and he wasn't eating very well, and he was much more tired," Colin's mom Alison says, recalling the early days of his illness. His family initially wrote off his fatigue as a side effect of starting kindergarten, but their lives changed forever when a month of fevers, extreme bone pain, numerous trips to the pediatrician, and ER visits resulted in a devastating diagnosis of Philadelphia-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Since the diagnosis, Colin and his family have gone through many treatments and setbacks. His first round of chemotherapy was riddled with complications, often landing him in the hospital and challenging his family's spirit. Alison shared that "Colin was in remission, went off treatment in October 2020, and then he relapsed the first time in June of 2021. He got back in remission, with CAR T at UVA Children's Hospital, went through a bone marrow transplant in October of 2021 at CHOP, and did well with the transplant, but then relapsed again in March of 2023. Colin is currently back in remission and continues to receive treatment.

ASK'S Role in Colin's Life

ASK provides a welcoming environment for families, just like Colin's. They host community events, such as the fun-filled family picnic Colin and his family attended in Charlottesville, to build a sense of community and allow families to enjoy quality time together. ASK also provided an Education Navigator to Colin, who gave him the resources he needed to start middle school while in treatment. Colin's family also participated in ASK's most recent GlowGold campaign to help raise awareness of pediatric cancer in their community and the need for funding for additional resources for families with a child with cancer. ASK provides funding to families for non-medical related expenses, such as gas and groceries, so families can focus on giving their child the treatment they need.