Reina

Hi, my name is Reina and I am 16 years old. I was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma (Bone Cancer) in December of 2009. Through this God has given me complete peace and without Him I know I wouldn't have been able to make it. It started a couple years ago when I felt the Lord leading me to be a Pediatric Oncologist. I then started thinking about, how could I understand what the children were going through so I could be a better help to them. So I started to pray to God that if it was his will for me to be an Oncologist that he would help me to better understands what these kids were going through. A couple months later I started to get a very bad pain in my leg that turned out to be cancer.
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Miles

Miles is six years old. He was diagnosed with ALL in June of 2009. Prior to his diagnosis, Miles was enjoying his first year of tee-ball with Varina Recreation's Red Sox. Miles began treatment at MCV Hospital where he continues to receive treatment today. He has responded well to treatment and remains in remission. Miles moved to the maintenance phase of treatment in December 2009 and will continue treatment until August 2012.
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Melanie

Melanie truly is a miracle of God. At age 15, she was diagnosed with CML (Chronic Myelogenous luekemia). CML is rare in children and it accounts for less than 5 percent of childhood cancer. It normally affects persons between the ages of 40 and 60. Melanie was hospitalized near death. She forged forward despite all odds. Melanie has battled this disease for two and a half years and she is winning!
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Reese

Julia "Reese" Klauer was diagnosed with a brain tumor (medullablastoma) in January 2009. She was only 6 years old. The tumor was surgically removed on 1/14/09. Post surgery, she was diagnosed with a rare condition called Posterior Fossa Syndrome. She was unable to talk, walk, use her arms or even swallow in the first days post-op. She was sent to inpatient rehab at Kluge Children's Hospital in Charlottesville, VA for almost 3 weeks. Over the next 10 weeks she regained the ability to eat, talk and even walk again. She still participates in PT and OT to strengthen her core and hone her fine motor skills.
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Damon

Damon was diagnosed with medulloblastoma (brain tumor) on May 29, 2008. He was just two years old. The cancer spread through the lining of his brain and down his spinal cord. He was not able to walk, move, talk, eat or even cry. He had numerous surgeries, battled seizures, and had to endure six rounds of chemotherapy. His last three rounds of chemo required him to go to the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit for stem cell transplants. Through it all, he has remained at peace. He knows that God is with him and he worships his Heavenly Father every chance he gets. The better he gets, the bigger his smile gets!! In January 2009, Damon was cancer free! Unfortunately, the cancer returned later that year, and in September 2009, Damon gained his angel wings.
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Jason

When Jason was 6 years old, the doctors found a brain tumor. After a 1-1/2 years of chemotherapy, the tumor did not shrink, so he had surgery. Although the doctors were able to remove part of the tumor, they also had to remove part of the right temporal lobe, which helped greatly to reduce his seizures. Jason is now 12 and is doing ok. He will live with the remainder of the tumor and will remain on seizure meds. Throughout his ordeal, Jason has been so strong and handles everything that's thrown his way. He loves the WWE, Nascar racing (DALE JR.), and rock music. He is a true hero!!
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Darius

Darius is 11 years old and on October 31, 2007 (Halloween evening), he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. That day his life was turned upside down. He has undergone surgery and completed radiation and now is undergoing chemotherapy. Darius is an energetic, intelligent and curious young boy. He enjoys sharing his time with his family and friends and the smile that he shows will light up a room. He also enjoys writing on his blog daily. Through it all he knows that God has been with him through this illness and God will take care of him.
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Connor

Connor is a blond haired, blue-eyed, smart and determined child with Down Syndrome who was originally diagnosed with leukemia and a spinal tumor in April of 2004. After the surgery to remove the tumor, he spent the next six months in and out of the hospital receiving chemotherapy. The surgery damaged his spine, so he also had to learn to use his right hand again as well as walk again. It was amazing that he was able to start school in the fall. He used a little walker and he would speed down the school hallways. He was also determined to climb the playground equipment much to the dismay of his teachers. During the summer of 2006, while on vacation at the beach, Connor had trouble walking and we quickly returned home. We found out that his spine was growing crookedly from the prior surgery, crushing his spinal cord. He spent the next months in the hospital recovering from extensive surgery to repair his spine. He handled it all in stride, charming everyone with his sheer determination. He especially loved watching Christmas shows in July, and started his ongoing love for Scooby-Doo.
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Matt

Matt celebrated his 15th birthday in October 2006, and a month later, on November 15th, was diagnosed with T-cell ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia). At 15 years of age, with a 7-inch mass in his chest and a white blood cell count of around 280,000 (the normal being from 5,000 to 10,000), he was classified as high risk. Fortunately, he took well to initial treatment. Within a few days he had shed 3 pounds of tumor cells, and weeks later, an examination of his bone marrow did not show one bad cell. This did not mean his treatment was over, though. In fact, the most intense phase of his treatment had not even begun.
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Rachel

Rachel was 10 months old when she was diagnosed with stage II, B-cell lymphoma. She underwent 6 months of chemotherapy which sent the cancer into remission; however, 11 months later during a routine visit to MCV it was discovered that her cancer had come back as acute lymphocytic leukemia. At this time Rachel was just 2 and the 92% chance of survival dropped to a shocking 40%.
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Jamie

Jamie Hess was diagnosed with Chronic Myelogeneous Leukemia in March, 2001. Jamie was an energetic, intelligent young boy who had a zest for life equaled only by his contagious smile, determined spirit, and compassionate heart.
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Connor

Connor was diagnosed with ALL in August 2003 when he was 22 months old. He ended treatment in March 2006. He is our inspiration and the reason we started Connor's Heroes Foundation.
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Owen

Two weeks after his second birthday, while in the hospital for a bone infection, Owen was diagnosed with stage IV neuroblastoma.
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Zach

Zach is an inspiration! He decided he wanted to do something to help kids with cancer. So, on his own, he planned an "Unbirthday Party" for children with cancer and their families. He contacted an indoor inflatable business and asked them to donate their space, he obtained gift cards to purchase pizza, cake, other snacks and supplies, and he prepared gift bags with loads of goodies for all the participants. He also prepared the information flyer and hosted the entire event. It's hard to believe Zach is only 12 years old! Zach looks to his mother, Lisa, for inspiration as she is a breast cancer survivor.
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Sonja Wilkey

Sonja Wilkey loves to run!! This year, she decided to commit her addiction to running to a greater cause, that of raising money for Connor's Heroes. Working in the medical field, she sees sickness, disease, and death on a regular basis. However, the ultimate of heartache and pain is watching a young innocent child die of cancer, especially if that child is your own. Sonja understands that cancer-stricken children and their families need our help, and she's helping Connor's Heroes Foundation achieve its mission of Conquering Childhood Cancer!
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‘Lissa Kate

‘Lissa Kate is a 5th grader at Greenfield Elementary School. This year, for her 11th birthday, she decided to have a celebration that would honor more than just her birthday. Instead of gifts for herself, she invited her friends to bring donations that could be used to help fill Connor's Heroes backpacks.
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Chad Bowen

My name is Chad Bowen and I am a 15 year cancer survivor. At the age of 13, I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (T-Cell). At that age it was really hard for me to understand what cancer is, and what it can do to a person physically and mentally. I remember saying, “Cancer is something old people get right?” Well it didn’t take me long to realize the misconception of cancer. Cancer has no prejudice, nor does it just affect the person that was diagnosed with the disease. It affects our loved ones as well.
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Impact Volunteers Help with Heroes Bags and Backpacks

For the second time, volunteers from IMPACT assisted Connor's Heroes with its Heroes Bags and Backpacks program. These ladies rolled up their sleeves and helped organize and inventory donated items that are then placed into totebags and backpacks and given to newly-diagnosed childhood cancer patients and their families. Many thanks to Joan, Toby, Evelyn, and Mary Lee for their willingness to spend many hours helping us Conquer Childhood Cancer!
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Lynchburg United Soccer U12 Boys Red Honor Their Coach

Congratulations to the Lynchburg United Soccer U12 Boys Red team for raising almost $1,200 in honor of their coach, John Casler. Using Connor's Heroes' First Giving page during the Anthem Colonial Cup Youth Soccer tournament, the team was able to raise money for Connor's Heroes and honor their coach. Not only a devoted father, husband and coach who loves soccer and is honored to be able to coach and teach our youth, he is a retired Naval Pilot who flew in over 23 missions in Desert Storm. John Casler is a hero to all who know him!
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King George 4-H Livestock Club

When Wesley got diagnosed with a brain tumor in June 2007, he received a backpack from Connor's Heroes. Instead of sitting back and being thankful for the gift, he engaged his 4-H club to collect items for Connor's Heroes Bags and Backpacks program. In 2007 and 2008, the Club donated hundreds of items, in honor of their friend, Wesley!
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Michigan Brownie Troop

Earlier this month, Brownie Troop 70154 from Lake Orion, Michigan assembled bedside crafts and made cards to be included in the backpacks Connor's Heroes distributes to cancer patients and their families. The troop consists of 11 first grade girls who attend St. Joseph School. This was a great opportunity for the girls to learn the importance of helping others.
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Seven Pines Elementary School

On December 17, 2009, children in grades k-5 at Seven Pines Elementary School ran in the annual Trot for Tots. After running on a selected path, each child dropped a wrapped gift into three huge boxes. Over 500 toys were collected to benefit Connor's Heroes. The students were asked to donate toys to make the holiday season more pleasant for those helped by Connor's Heroes. Shannon Maroney, the resource teacher who is also a cancer survivor, organized the event.
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i9 Sports

In the 2008 fall season, i9 Sports reached out to Connor’s Heroes' families by providing them with some needed assistance. Each flag football team and cheerleading group from both the Henrico and Hanover County locations, compiled one backpack (26 total) to give to families with a child who has been diagnosed with cancer and is being treated at the VCU Children’s Medical Center.
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Girl Scout Troop 200

Every year for the last four years, Troop 200 has sold Girl Scout cookies, and every year, they donate their proceeds to a charity that the Troop votes to support. This year, the 13 fourth graders at Mary Munford Elementary School in Richmond, Virginia, decided unanimously to donate their cookie money to Connor's Heroes.
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U-TURN Sports Performance Academy

U-TURN Sports Performance Academy has become part of Connor’s Heroes Hero Family. As a facility, U-Turn offers sports training to youth and children with cancer who have been told by their medical team that it is safe for them to participate in sports programs again. They are also willing to support families who have a child in active cancer treatment whose siblings are involved in sports.
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Ashland Barracudas

The Ashland Barracudas is a swim club that shows the spirit of honoring and being a hero. They have become a part of the Connors Heroes HERO FAMILY through their experience with Jamie Hess.
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