2024 Thanksgiving Ball Gala Ambassadors
Alex, 11 Leukemia
Alex loves the staff at Morristown. The nurses would brighten his day by playing Pokémon with him, giving him something to look forward to. The child life specialists were also amazing. When Alex was admitted to the hospital, they met him at his level, explaining the diagnosis in kid-friendly terms and providing a safe space to ask questions. Then it was playtime - there was nothing these specialists wouldn't do. From laser tag in the halls to hockey and Nerf gun battles, they made the hospital experience fun. I vividly recall a memorable moment when I got off the elevator to find an all-out Nerf war, with Alex, a child life specialist, and a doctor tumbling to avoid the foam bullets. Alex's smile and laughter made it all worthwhile.
Alex is still receiving weekly infusions at home and having monthly checks at the hospital. When he is not in the hospital, he loves watching the NJ Devils and playing ice hockey. He also participates in taekwondo and is currently a semi-black belt.
Anne, 13 Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia with an IAMP 21 marker
I remember sitting in our cabin at Camp Happy Times and sharing everyone’s names. We all started laughing and talking about random things. Now those are some of my best friends.
The Valerie Fund gives my family support and help when we need it. They also make me feel better by giving me things to do when I am in the hospital. Lastly, they give me meal tickets for the hospital cafeteria when I am hungry.
I am still in treatment but when I am not at The Valerie Fund Center I am dancing, at school, doing sports, and spending time with my family.
Aubree, 10 Burkitt’s Leukemia
Aubree is very shy, but she opens up with her favorite nurse, Nurse Ros. She sees her as her other mother.
The Valerie Fund has helped enormously with emotional support as we go through treatment.
Ava, 18 Osteosarcoma
Diagnosed with osteosarcoma in 2022, Ava credits her treatment team at The Valerie Fund Children’s Center at Goryeb Children’s Hospital. “They brought out the best part of me. They made me realize the kind of person that I am, and they showed me the kind of person that I strive to be every day. I can honestly say that this journey would’ve been a whole lot harder and a lot less fun if not for my team at the Valerie Center.”
Avery, 6 Acute Myeloid Leukemia
The Valerie Fund provided my daughter with a safe, clean and comfortable environment to receive inpatient and outpatient treatment. They also provided us with the best nurses, doctors, and child life staff to help make our time comfortable. Every staff member we encountered went above and beyond to help our angel get through this extremely difficult time.
Avery Joy is in remission and loves life. She is in 1st grade and enjoys playing outside, musicals with her family, coloring, her iPad, and the couch, Disney movies, and princesses. She is one happy kid and brings joy to everyone she meets.
Daria, 17 Osteosarcoma
The Valerie Fund Children’s Center staff is very welcoming and always makes us laugh. I have a very close relationship with Kristen. A vivid memory I have with her is when she would knock on my door and beg me to play Bingo. It would make me really happy, even when I was drained.
When I’m not in treatment, I like to hang out with my friends and try new foods.
Gianna, 13 T-Cell ALL Leukemia
I dressed in Halloween costumes every month, and also for my last five treatments. The Valerie Fund helped in so many ways. It was a loving community with all the staff. Seeing everyone always made my treatments a little more tolerable.
I’m out of treatment and doing very well now. I’m in 8th grade and play lacrosse, field hockey, and volleyball. I also joined some clubs and have been doing community service.
Hannah, 16 Medulloblastoma
Mark, my acupuncturist, helped me so much during my illness. Chemo gave me all sorts of side effects. No matter what was bothering me that day, Mark would make me feel better with the acupuncture and by really getting to know me. We had a good laugh joking around with each other. It truly is a relationship that I will never forget
I’ve been performing in musicals for a long time, and being in the hospital made me realize that my love for singing is much deeper than I originally thought. Music has always been a part of my life, and it helped me get through my treatments, no matter how hard the day. Now out of treatment, I’m back performing, doing what I love.
Hilma, 17 Osteosarcoma
I attended Camp Happy Times and have great memories of doing arts and crafts with other girls and making sunglasses to wear at the Camp Dance. It was a good bonding moment. During treatment, The Valerie Fund staff would give me games and trinkets to play with so I wouldn’t get impatient or sad. They have also provided financial support to my family to help us get through.
When I’m not at The Valerie Fund Children’s Center, I like to watch TV shows on my iPad. I like crime, romance, and horror shows.
Jaysaan, 7 Sickle Cell Disease
Jaysaan enjoys going to The Valerie Fund Children’s Center for treatment because they have fun parties. His family appreciates the support they receive, knowing that the Center staff are always there for whatever we need. Outside of treatment, Jaysaan loves to play with his toys, do sports, and dance.
Jhurnye, 9 Sickle Cell Disease
Each doctor at The Valerie Fund Children’s Center cares for me and ensures I’m comfortable and okay. They help me and my family any time I visit the center for a checkup or admission, making sure I am not in pain or sad. I enjoy the holiday parting and have the best time.
When I'm not at The Valerie Fund Children's Center, I enjoy riding my bike and scooter with my sister and brother. I also love doing arts and crafts.
Jillian, 19 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
One of my best Valerie Fun Children’s Center memories is doing the Beads of Hope with Ann. It gave me something to look forward to for each TVF visit and helped distract me from the not-so-fun parts of treatment. The Valerie Fund has helped my family in numerous ways throughout the last six years, both during and after my treatment. The social workers, especially Ann, check in with me and my family periodically.
I am attending Stevens Institute of Technology as a chemistry major with the support of The Valerie Fund’s Steffa Family Scholarship, which helps pay for college. I am so grateful for their support. I do all I can for The Valerie Fund by fundraising for the Walk annually.
Julie, 16 Ph-like ALL (leukemia)
I enjoyed learning and playing games at The Valerie Fund Children’s Center. For Dr. Seuss Day, we made slime, which I almost actually drank. The Valerie Fund has always been there to provide emotional support for our whole family. They helped us make connections with peers to ease our feelings of isolation, added elements of fun and comfort to hospital stays and clinic visits, gave treats and cheer for holidays and special events, and provided educational support and advocacy at school.
I’m in my senior year of high school at the Biomedical Sciences Academy and starting college applications. I’m the saxophone section leader for the marching band and in the jazz ensemble, all with many thanks to The Valerie Fund and CHOP, getting to be a pretty “normal” teen.
Kosta, 21 Osteosarcoma
The staff at The Valerie Fund Children’s Center in Morristown is nothing short of incredible and exemplary; they are always there for you. From Jim, my favorite masseuse, to Anne-Marie, my nurse practitioner, they always know how to maintain a positive rapport and banter. Regardless of the situation, I find that every time I walk into the clinic, I walk out happier, knowing I am in good hands.
The Valerie Fund has helped and continues to help my family both during my illness and even now through scholarships, emotional/mental support, financial assistance, health-related recommendations such as second opinions or surgeons, and continued guidance in and out of the hospital when it comes to the unexpected realities of dealing with something as serious as cancer and what was once thought to be so far away from the norm.
Having recently finished treatment and always being the one to push myself to greater heights, I am now doing my best to continue my pursuit of higher education and knowledge at NJIT. However, this does not come without its challenges, especially being disabled for the time being.
Lily, 8 Pre-B Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Lily being treated for leukemia at The Valerie Fund Children’s Center at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital has been such a blessing. It was her first birthday as a patient at SBCH, and right after diagnosis. Everyone on the floor (doctors, nurses, nursing assistants, etc.) came into her examining room in the cancer center to sing “Happy Birthday” to Lily. Birthdays that can still happen for Lily are a true privilege and blessing. It’s helped us see that time is precious and should not be taken for granted.
The Valerie Fund Children’s Center has been a lifesaver (literally) for our child. The care that Lily receives while she is receiving treatment at the Children’s Center and when she’s been admitted to the hospital floor has been top-notch. Without this amazing facility and without the Valerie Fund, we don’t know if we would be as fortunate as we are to have our beautiful daughter still around.
Outside of treatment, Lily likes to go to school and see friends, go to dance and twirling classes, and be an active Brownie Girl Scout. She also listens to music, does arts and crafts, and plays with her two dogs.
Mac, 1 Acute Myeloid Leukemia
The staff was kind and caring for Mac every day. The Valerie Fund Children’s Center’s team of doctors, nurses, and every member who helped save our son’s life made such a swift impact on our family. We knew immediately that we were in the right hands. The Valerie Fund has been an incredible help to our family. During his treatment, he found constant entertainment with his toys and gifts. We were also constantly assisted with our finances–from groceries to our larger monthly payments–which provided a huge relief to all of us.
Today, Mac lives the life of your average one-year-old who has conquered AML. Activities and madness ensue at the house as Mac and his sister light up the room with joy, turn page after page in their books, and sing the literal and figurative soundtrack to our lives. We know Mac is lucky, but we all know we’re luckier. Our biggest thanks to Ann and Brianne and the entire team at the Valerie Center for giving us our family back!
Marko, 18 Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma
One of my favorite memories at The Valerie Fund Children’s Center is when a then-random nurse, who I now know and love as Ann-Marie, showed up in my room with a massive bag of Swedish Fish and just kept me company. Every time I go to the Center, no matter how sick I’m feeling, I always have a smile on my face. Everyone feels like family, and I thank God I have met amazing people like them.
I am currently attending Farleigh Dickinson University, majoring in biochemistry. I want to go to medical school and become a doctor. I also love going into the studio and recording music every day.
Myla, 7 Sickle Cell Disease
Myla receives treatment at The Valerie Fund Children’s Center every three months. The Valerie Fund has helped our family a lot. The center staff is very responsive and always helps with emergencies.
Myla enjoys making TikTok videos, playing games, participating in fashion shows, and modeling.
Pilar, 10 Sickle Cell Disease
The people at the Valerie Center are amazing. Everyone is so caring; they take time to get to know my daughter and the rest of the family. Pilar is so comfortable going there for her routine checkups and always leaves with a smile. She feels she is going to visit family who care about her health and well-being and not a hospital.
In the Dominican Republic, Pilar was frequently hospitalized with pain crises. The doctors there told us she was never going to be able to swim, ride a bike, or tolerate cold weather, so we made the difficult decision to move to the US. We found the Valerie Center, and our lives were transformed. The doctor immediately adjusted the medicines to the correct dosage and assured us that with the proper treatment and care, Pilar would have a normal life, and she does. She loves swimming, riding her bike, and doing everything an ordinary 10-year-old girl does. Pilar is on the cheerleading squad and loving it. Since being here and treated at the Valerie Center, she has not had any episodes with her condition. We will always be thankful to the Valerie Center for giving us the best gift, our daughter's health!
My daughter has so many dreams, like going to college, traveling, and enjoying life in general, and with the support of the Valerie Center, I can now say that she will make those dreams come true. Pilar (and the whole family) appreciates what the Valerie Center has done for her, and she wants to give back somehow and help other kids with the condition have the same opportunities she has had.
