Family Stories

Bob was a beloved teacher who taught at Willard High School for 27 years. He was diagnosed with cancer in October of 2022. His family reached out to the Piggyback Foundation for support during this time.

“The Foundation supported our family by doing their best to understand our needs and hardships.” Bob’s wife, Bettie, said. “They supported our daughters through sports and in so many other ways: gas cards, gift cards, checks, gift baskets, and meals.”

Despite going through multiple radiations and chemo treatments, Bob passed away on April 1, 2024, leaving behind his wife, Bettie, and two daughters, Emma and Ellie. The Foundation continues to support the family as they grieve his passing.

“When you suffer the loss of a family member, you are immediately showered with meals, groceries, visits, phone calls, and cards. But as time passes, everyone goes back to their normal lives. This is where the family needs to feel supported and is exactly what the Piggyback Foundation delivers!”

The Piggyback Foundation does its best to provide love and support to families enduring such hardships. Memorial donations in Bob’s name, holidays, and birthday gifts are ways that continued support is given to his remaining family.

“The Foundation has made such a loving impression on me and my family through their unwavering kindness and actions. Their continued support has been heaven-sent and will never be forgotten.”

Brynlee was diagnosed with B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia just one month after her 3rd birthday. She was treated as high-risk for a full year, traveling to appointments 4-5 days a week and enduring many patient stays. The family bags were always packed in case of an emergency visit.

“She has been the true definition of a warrior,” Brynlee’s mom, Lindsey, said.

Brynlee’s family had heard of The Piggyback Foundation and were connected through a friend. Lindsey praises The Foundation for providing her family with a community of people who understood and were there for them.

“It put my mind at ease being home all the time, knowing there’s a community right down the road from us.”

The Foundation’s retail shop, When Pigs Fly, became one of little Brynlee’s fun things to do.

“Even while in treatment, we’d pop into the store. She wore a mask, and everyone was so understanding. It was our special place to be during treatment and would brighten her day.”

Brynlee entered her maintenance stage a couple days before her 4th birthday and is scheduled to be done in March 2026. She is currently back in Preschool.

“Her smile never faltered. One of the very first things the hospital told us when we went was not to be surprised at how resilient kids are. Now I see what they really meant.”

The Piggyback Foundation is so blessed to be able to share a part in amazing stories like Brynlee’s. She is an incredible little girl, and we all love her.

“Piggyback friends became family. We knew we weren’t alone. The generosity and kindness is more than I could have ever imagined. We are so incredibly grateful to The Piggyback Foundation.”

Our son, Amon, was diagnosed with Acute B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia in July of 2020, one month after he turned 3. He was always a healthy little boy, as far as we knew, so this was a shock to our family. At the time of his diagnosis, we were told that Amon's bone marrow was comprised of about 77% Leukemia cells. Amon remained hospitalized for a few weeks before he was able to receive regular outpatient chemotherapy treatments, which continued until just last month when he was able to ring the bell of treatment completion! 

Amon took part in a clinical trial where he had to wear a backpack with a pump to deliver continuous chemo for many weeks. He was hospitalized several times throughout treatment due to complications from the side effects of his medications or illness as a result of his compromised immune system. Each hospital stay, appointment, routine COVID swab before each procedure, and blood draw took place at Main Campus in Cleveland. Despite all of the struggles, our family of six is extremely fortunate and we feel this deeply. 

Amon is a Kindergarten student, and since he stopped his daily oral chemotherapy medications a few weeks ago, his energy and stamina have noticeably changed. We are incredibly lucky to know that he will be able to live a carefree, full childhood, while also feeling good. A long time ago we were told that a period of "post-traumatic growth" is often observed after going through an experience like his, and we are seeing this already. 

"The day before my child was diagnosed, I wasn't a cancer parent either." I saw this on an awareness post during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and it really resonated with me. It was extremely distressing to go through the few weeks and months after Amon was diagnosed, but it was compounded even more because this all took place right in the heart of 2020 when we were completely separated from other families. There were no support groups or even conversations in the waiting room. At no point could family members, including siblings, participate in anything at the hospital. In other words, we didn't know what we were missing, until we felt what it was like to feel connected and supported and we found that with the Piggyback Foundation.

This was well over a year after we began the journey. I was given the name of this organization by another mother from Vermilion whose daughter was a Stage IV Rhabdomyosarcoma survivor. Her family was a "Piggyback Family" and when we connected on the phone, she spoke at length about how wonderful and supportive they had been. She also has four children, so she expressed her gratitude at Piggyback's mission to support families in special ways, such as helping to fund extracurricular endeavors for siblings. All of these extras such as athletics, music lessons, and camps add up quickly, but they also provide a balanced sense of fun and enjoyment in the lives of siblings. My daughter often reminds me that I can really take the fun out of things when I dwell too much on the financial aspects, and so this year we have been so blessed to be under the care of Marty, who is our outreach member from the organization. She has been so warm and caring. She has come to our home and kept in touch with us throughout the months. She checks in around appointment times, and I'm able to request help when needed, which allows our children to live in a state of relative normalcy.

I remember very fondly when my late Grandmother would fold a crisp $20 bill into her hand, and pass it into my hand in a handshake. "Here some 'mad money"", she would say. I'd know it to mean that I could use it to enjoy life. Treat myself to something. And if it was something that I needed anyway like gas for my car or groceries, well, the burden was lifted that she was treating! I feel that same "warm fuzzy" feeling with Marty and the amazing group of women that make up this organization. Thank you for helping us feel connected, supported, and loved. 

My step mother Ashley Williams was battling breast cancer and unfortunately passed July 15 of last year. The Piggyback Foundation is no stranger to the struggles of dealing with terminal illness in the family. I do not mean to boast or brag about myself. By talking about how the foundation has affected me, it is with the sole intention of providing first hand experience that the work the Piggyback Foundation does has purpose.

For those unfamiliar with the butterfly effect, put simply, it implies that small changes or events can lead to large-scale changes in the future. To me this is self-evident, I am a strong believer that good deeds have compounding effects. This effect is multiplied when it affects children, positively or negatively. When your love one is dying of a terminal illness, there are a lot of negative memories and to a child, perhaps the worst loss they’ve ever experienced. The Piggyback Foundation's goal of establishing normalcy during this time does its best to cancel this negative effect and replace it with positive ones. Looking at where I am now, I attribute much of it to the good nature and generosity of others, some complete strangers compelled by nothing but compassion.

My name is Joseph England and I am currently serving the United States Marine Corps. My military occupational specialty (MOS). I am a Corporal of Marines, my primary MOS is a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear Defense Specialist, my secondary is a Martial Arts Instructor. I teach Marines how to protect themselves from these hazards, and how to defend themselves from those who wish us harm. I will never know if the skills I have taught my Marine brothers and sisters will save their lives, but I am content knowing that when or if they face a situation that threatens them, they will be better prepared because of my work.

I was introduced to Martial Arts around the age of 15, attending a free Jui-Jitsu class that my grandmother brought me to at the only dojo in Norwalk, eventually finding Hooligan’s Boxing and MMA where I immediately developed a strong bond with the others and felt a sense of belonging. When I was training, the only thing on my mind was improving myself and helping others do the same. During Ashley’s trials with breast cancer, my father did his best to keep us from being burdened by the emotional toll that cancer can bring into a household. I did not know it at the time, but terminal illness is expensive, very expensive.

I established a routine going to high-school, working, and going to train Jui-Jitsu in the evening as a release. Behind the scenes, the Piggyback Foundation was there to help my father pay for my martial arts classes, all the way up until I left 1 month after graduating Edison High School to join the Marine Corps. If not for the Piggyback Foundation’s help, my family would not have been able to afford to send myself, my brother, or my step-sister to anything. The course of my life could have been radically changed. The emotional toll of Ashley’s cancer would have been the only thing to occupy my thoughts. Humans need a sense of purpose, community, and belonging or else they will go mad.

July 15 2020, the day Ashley passed, I was driving back to Camp Lejeune, NC returning from leave. I had said goodbye just before I left, knowing that it was likely the last time I would see her alive. When she did pass, it was hard for everyone. However, our family still had that “normalcy” that the Piggyback Foundation was so vital in maintaining. We all had purpose, community, and belonging. By having these things in our lives we could remember Ashley the way she would have wanted, by focusing on all the good memories and exciting times that we had, and celebrating her life, not letting her passing bring us pain and sadness. There is no doubt in my mind that Ashley took comfort knowing that the Piggyback Foundation had helped her and the ones she loved make so many good memories and ensured that her family was taken care of. I personally want to thank everyone at the Piggyback Foundation, you have made a difference in my family’s lives, and I intend to pay it forward.

Respectfully,
Corporal England, Joseph A.
CBRN Chief/MAI
H&S Company
Combat Logistics Battalion 8
Combat Logistics Regiment 2
2D Marine Logistics

Hope for those in the darkest days….. 

I cannot begin to express the gratitude that I have for the Piggyback Foundation. Our lives were turned upside down September 2008. Our youngest son was 6 weeks old and our older son was only 3 when my husband, literally the strongest man I have ever known, was diagnosed with cancer.

This defining moment changed my life forever. I do believe Piggyback Foundation was introduced to us a couple years later, sometime in 2011.

By this time, we were exhausted mentally, physically, emotionally, and financially. When fighting cancer with a loved one, everything in life is focused on survival, cancer, treatments, and appointments. Although we tried to keep some normalcy in our home for our children, there was nothing normal about it. PBF came in and helped with some of the normalcy for our children. They helped by offering us opportunities for our family to create memories. The foundation had partnered with a local professional photographer and were able to have family portraits taken that are my most treasured gift. They gave us gifts for relaxation spa treatments at a local salon. I do believe they gave us Cedar Point passes, zoo passes, and I distinctly remember them helping us with expenses for a family trip to see relatives in North Carolina.

It has been so long ago now, that I cannot fully remember all the support, but it was more than I could have ever imagined. I am forever grateful. Little did we know, these times were my husband’s last days. We would not have had the resources or the forethought to create these memories if not for PBF. My husband took his last worldly breath on April 2, 2012.

I don’t know who will read this, if anyone, but the last picture is recent because If you are in the boat we were in many years ago, I remember the fear desperation, and darkness. There is light on the other side, no matter the outcome of your journey. It may not be the outcome you envisioned or even the one you want but , you can make it through the darkness and create the life you desire. It will just be different and that is okay.

Spencer Rumer
Jan. 14, 2002 – Sept. 17, 2019

On August 20, 2010, Spencer was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called Spindle Cell, Synovial Sarcoma, High Grade. It was a cancerous tumor on his head with metastases to his lung. The Piggyback Foundation started working with Spencer and his family right away. Board members, Allison Smith and Lisa Hiler met with the family before they traveled to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Spencer spent four months at St. Jude’s. At that time, the foundation helped with the family’s car payment, Spencer’s sister, Kylee’s band camp fee, back to school clothes and a birthday celebration for Spencer’s brother, Zach. Over the next 9 years, Spencer relapsed with cancer 5 times. The foundation supported the family through these difficult times. Spencer was a fighter with a positive attitude.

His mom, Lisa, kept searching for any cutting edge treatments to help in Spencer’s battle. Every effort possible was made to save Spencer’s life, but in the summer of 2019 a mass entangled around Spencer’s heart was inoperable and chemo/radiation was no longer working.

Spencer was an amazing artist. His favorite quote was from artist Melissa Miller, “Thematically, I wish my paintings to depict the many facets and layers of life and survival, of which I am a constant and curious observer.”

The Piggyback Foundation provided art materials for Spencer. As an extra special surprise, Spencer’s mom, Lisa, gathered his artwork and brought it to When Pigs Fly, where we were able to frame his work. Our intern, Isabelle Rousseau, hung it in Spencer’s room. It was beautiful to see the joy it brought to Spencer to see his work framed.

Spencer passed in September at the age of 17 after a 9 year battle with cancer. His beautiful spirit touched us all.

By Julie Murdock

Sophia came to our Piggyback Family as an adorable 8 – month old girl with significant heart defects and other serious health issues, which were causing a failure to thrive at her tender age. Having already undergone one complex heart surgery, she needed another heart surgery immediately.

After a successful operation and many follow up appointments, Sophia is a rambunctious toddler and doing better than her doctors had predicted!

However, just when Sophia received a clean bill of health, her mother, Bianca was diagnosed with Stage 3 Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma in April of this year. It looks like the cancer has been eliminated and that there is little chance of reoccurrence. God is good! The foundation is blessed to be a part of this family’s life and to have helped them through this difficult time.

By Martha Long

Peyton discovered she had cancer when she was just 4 1⁄2 years old . I met Peyton as a feisty little fighter with a twinkle in her eyes in August of 2016.

She had a rare form of cancer behind her nose, Embryoral Rhabdomyosarcoma. Peyton was my very first family. I fell in love with her precocious and witty personality. Peyton’s’ Daddy is her HERO. He persisted to take Peyton to Akron Children’s Hospital after numerous ear infections and a visit to a hospital. Peyton coughed up what they thought was a blood clot. Peyton’s Daddy didn’t agree and took the so-called blood clot to Akron- where it was tested and she was immediately diagnosed with cancer. Peyton had surgery and extensive chemo to follow in Akron. She spent her 5th birthday in a Chicago hospital undergoing a special procedure for her rare cancer. The next 6 months were spent going back and forth to Akron enduring many chemo treatments and testing.

We celebrated Peyton’s first year cancer free by going to a Fairy Garden where Peyton learned wished do come true! Peyton has participated in 4-H, T-Ball and will be getting her picture taken with our Super Heroes this fall.

One of our goals here at Piggyback is to bring a little joy to our families; however, little Peyton has brought us more joy than we would have ever imagined!