Introducing our 2024 Will’s Warrior - Ashley the Incredible
Ashley the Incredible
In August 2021, Ashley faced her 2nd battle with cancer, undergoing another round of chemotherapy. Throughout her 18-month treatment of Vinblastine, doctors supplemented her regimen with Avastin, which restricted the tumor’s access to blood vessels - depriving them of the nutrients to grow. This was evident in her MRI scans as the tumors no longer glowed with contrast; a positive sign that blood flow was being restricted. True to her nature, Ashley formed bonds with every nurse, doctor, and child she encountered during her clinic visits. By the spring of 2023, Ashley emerged victorious once again.
Outside of her medical journey, Ashley loves playing with her siblings, Austin, Aubree, & Aiden, as well as drawing, swimming, & gymnastics. Despite being limited in certain activities due to her condition, she has adapted to using one eye and remains determined to pursue her dream of becoming a firefighter. Like anyone facing cancer, she asks, “why me?” and needs encouragement to endure. Yet through it all, she embodies the spirit of a lionheart.
Meet All Our Will's Warriors
Brynn the Brave - 2019
On December 10, 2018, 4 days after turning 7, Brynn was taken to the ER for fast and shallow breathing. Worst case, her parents thought, was that she might have pneumonia. A CT Scan showed a large mass taking up the right side of her chest with no lung sounds on the right. Immediately Brynn was transferred to CHOC in Orange where she began 20 days in the ICU. Within a few days of being at CHOC, she was given her official diagnosis of Ewing’s Sarcoma, and soon after began her 1st of 14 rounds of chemotherapy.
In May 2019 Brynn underwent surgery to remove the rest of the cancerous mass in her chest along with 3 ribs and 20% of her lung. After surgery and recovery she then had to finish 5 rounds of chemotherapy and 6 weeks of proton radiation. She finished treatment on August 5th.
For the most part Brynn felt good during treatment which allowed her and her family to have a lot of fun and laughs while at CHOC. The majority of her time in the hospital is filled with good memories. Brynn met Will during this time and became very interested and concerned about him. She would leave him notes on his hospital door and pray for him.
Mia The Courageous - 2020
Mia was first diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) Type B the summer of 2014. Mia was unable to attend school due to the rigorous treatment of her cancer which included chemotherapy, numerous medications and surgical procedures. Missing many aspects of childhood, Mia saw light and love with all those that cared for her and achieved remission after two and a half years of treatment.
Mia's remission was cut short, with news of a relapse after her 12th birthday in January 2020. Mia is currently being treated at CHLA under world-renowned oncologists and must undergo an intense chemotherapy protocol as she wages war against Leukemia, again. With current cancer research and clinical studies, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia’s initial prognosis rate is at 90-95%, although Research has yet to determine the main factors for a relapse. The fear, physical and emotional pain Mia must endure with her relapse cannot be measured.
Life in and out of a hospital for a child, especially during COVID, comes with a heavy burden. However, the blessing of hope for a cure for ALL and every pediatric cancer is revealed in Mia’s constant smiles, humility and spirit. Together with her family, friends and faithful church community, Mia is resolved to ending every child’s struggle experiencing cancer. Her dream is to advocate for children, like Angel Will Irwin.
Brave Like Blake - 2021
1 in every 285 American children faces a battle no child should ever have to endure: cancer. This brave boy is Blake, a pediatric cancer survivor and our 2021 Will’s Warrior, who has lived through this staggering statistic. Today, he continues to show resilience, and his family has shared the following update with us:
"Blake just turned 14 years old! He completed treatment for his brain tumor recurrence and we are closely watching for progression with his neuro-oncology team. Treatment, unfortunately, did not leave him cancer free but we’re grateful for stable disease and a much needed break from harsh chemotherapy treatments at the moment. Major brain surgery and years of treatment has left Blake with ongoing balance issues, anxiety, learning deficits and more. Through it all, we’re grateful for every day with our warrior. We’re hopeful for better, less harsh, treatment options for Blake so that we can continue to celebrate special milestones with our boy.”
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Tenacious Thatcher-2022
In many ways Thatcher is just like most 9 year olds boys you know–he’s excited to explore his world, eager to learn and loves dinosaurs! Thatcher is also an incredibly loving little boy who is always up for a cuddle. What sets Thatcher apart from most boys his age is that he is incredibly brave and strong as he has been battling for his life since he was two years old.
During a routine check-up, Thatcher’s pediatrician sent him to the Emergency Room for a CT scan that revealed a mass on his brain and led to a diagnosis of Medulloblastoma, brain cancer. One day after his CT scan, Thatcher underwent a lengthy craniotomy with a total resection of the golf ball sized tumor on his brain. Several more surgeries followed.
Two-year-old Thatcher spent weeks in the PICU before he could begin his rehabilitation to learn to walk and talk all over again. As a toddler Thatcher also received six months of in-patient heavy chemotherapy, followed by an autologous stem cell transplant.
Nine-months later, Thatcher’s family received the devastating news when an MRI revealed a new tumor on his brain and their little boy had to endure more debilitating chemotherapy.
Thatcher, his family, and his doctors continued to fight his cancer by introducing a new therapy–Anti-Angiogenic Metronomic chemotherapy that was injected directly into his head with the goal of keeping the now multiple tumors stable so they could hold off on radiation. Radiation is not used on children as it disrupts cognitive development and Thatcher’s family and doctors wanted to give his brain more time to develop.
After nine months of the Anti-Angiogenic Metronomic chemotherapy, Thatcher’s doctors expressed concern that the toxicity levels in his body were dangerously high, and the chemo portion of the treatment was reduced. At age 5 years and 11 months, a new tumor was discovered in Thatcher’s brain, and doctors fought this new tumor with six weeks of radiation to his entire head and spine. Thatcher then spent another year on chemotherapy, and that brings us to the present where Thatcher is out of treatment.
Through all of this Thatcher has continued to be incredibly brave, immeasurably sweet, unconditionally loving, and incredibly hopeful that all of this is in his past and a bright future is waiting.
Thatcher is currently cancer-free, but he lives with long-term side effects from his chemotherapy. He relies on hearing aids and has a blind spot affecting his vision due to one of his six brain surgeries. He is also undergoing evaluation for potential pituitary gland damage, which affects his growth and requires growth hormone treatment.
Audrey Coon - 2023
Audrey was 3 years old when she was diagnosed with medulloblastoma. She was taken to the emergency room at CHOC because of a headache. The CT scan showed a brain tumor, and she was admitted to the ICU. The tumor measured 3.9 centimeters in the back of her brain and was causing an increase in pressure in the brain known as hydrocephalus. The MRI scan that followed also revealed a 3.2 centimeter arterial venous malformation, known as an AVM in her temporal lobe that would typically lead to cranial bleeding if not found and removed in time. She underwent surgery and the entire tumor was successfully removed. The AVM still need to be addressed before any cranial bleeding. In order to get her AVM resected Audrey had to hold off on treatment and go into another surgery in Phoenix by best surgical team available. She then had a stem cell transplant.
Today, Audrey is a happy cancer- free 9-year-old who still lives with the daily effects of her treatment. She endures frequent headaches, exhaustion and many emotional struggles that are difficult for her to express.
She enjoys dancing, baking and would love to become a teacher or pediatrician when she grows up. She adores her older brother, Blake, who has been by her side through this journey. Family is most important to her.