James
James was diagnosed on April 9th, 2014. He completed treatment on August 22nd, 2017.
James likes football (especially the New York Giants), basketball, swimming, and spending time with friends and family. He collects vintage toys, loves playing 31 with his grandmother and working with his dad!
Sadie
I’m Sadie! I am eight years old and in the third grade. I have four brothers and two cats; I’m so glad the cats are girls! I love being creative with art, drawing, and sewing. I enjoy baking, especially cupcakes. When I grow up I want to own a cupcake bakery. I have a special plan to combine cupcakes and medicine so sick kids don’t have to taste yucky meds. I love to swim, ride bikes, and take hikes in the Adirondacks with my family. My mom says I have a tender, kind heart and a giggle that makes everyone smile.
James
James was diagnosed with a very rare blood disorder called PNH (Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria) and needed a stem cell transplant in July, 2016. We didn't have to look too far for a donor as James has an identical twin brother named Jacob. After many weeks of treatment last summer, James is now more than a year post-transplant and feels terrific. He is off all maintenance medicines, started his senior year of High School and just got his driver’s license. One of his passions has always been volunteering and working in the community. From the day CURE visited him with a big comfort bag full of games, books and more, James knew he’d like to do something to give back. He had that opportunity this past March when his Youth Group hosted a soup supper with all the proceeds donated to CURE. Before, during and after James’ illness, CURE provided extraordinary support to help our family through a really rough time and we remain forever grateful.
Angeline
Angeline is a sweet, 7 year old girl who was born June 22, 2010. She loves crafts and using sidewalk chalk. She also loves dancing and cheerleading! She is attending a local school and is currently in second grade!
Aiden
Meet our very own Aiden Falkey AKA Moose,
Aiden Falkey is a sweet, energetic, handsome and loving 7 year old. He attends school as a second grader where he enjoys being part of the Boy Scouts Troop and various sporting teams throughout the school year. He is the eldest of two boys and loves playing with his little brother Bryan.
Aiden is enthusiastic about Legos, Dinosaurs, Rocks, History & watching his favorite You Tube characters Pungence and FGTeeV.
On Nov 7th 2016, Aiden was diagnosed with Large B Cell lymphoma following an urgent surgery to remove a mass. Even before Aiden was diagnosed, he has always been the strongest and most resilient little old boy you could ever imagine. Even during his treatments, if the doctors weren't insisting that he was ill, one would never know.
Aiden is not defined by his situations, he is defined by his character.
Every morning during Aiden’s treatment we would wake up and take the day head on. The most amazing part is he managed to do this with a smile, whether it was joking with his doctors & nurses or getting other kids on the floor to leave their rooms and play; he brought laughter wherever he was. He never complained and continued to embrace life fully.
Aiden is very outgoing and if you have a moment to engage with him, I am sure you will leave with the same admiration for him as we have.
Kigen
in memory of his brother, Zion
Zion:
Zion was diagnosed when he was 2 years old in 2012 with a DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontaine Glioma) a brain tumor located on the brain stem, currently this tumor is inoperable and 100% fatal. Zion was an amazing little boy, a loving brother, son, nephew, grandson, and friend. He never let his illness get him down, he took it with determination and grace. Despite the disabilities he developed as a result of a stroke he had post op from a shunt placement, Zion still wanted to be as independent as possible. He was potty trained at age 3, he went to preschool, and he was always ready to play and try to wrestle with his younger brother Kigen and puppy Charlie. Our family couldn’t ask for a better quality of life for Zion despite his horrific diagnosis. He truly lived his short life to the fullest; he passed away May 21, 2014. We strive to keep his memory alive as a family and to help bring awareness to childhood cancer.
Kigen:
Kigen is a 7 year old little man. He loves to play soccer and participates in karate as well. He wants to be a fire fighter when he grows up. Kigen is a kind and helpful son, grandson, nephew, and friend. He’s always got a smile on his face and enjoys going to help out with the animals on his Grandma’s farm. He remains an amazing brother to this day. He still talks about the good memories with his brother, he was only 3 when Zion passed away. Kigen misses Zion every day; we make sure to go to his grave a few times a year to send Zion balloons in heaven. But he’s most excited to become a big brother this upcoming February!
Molly
My name is Molly and I am 17 years old. Last year at age 15, I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. I then started treatment at 16 last September. This was truly the hardest thing I've ever had to go through; physically, emotionally, and mentally. With the help of my family, friends and my entire team of Doctors at Golisano Children's Hospital. I was 100% cured and declared cancer free January of 2017. I am a Senior in high school. I love art, drawing and painting and I am looking at colleges to go to next year! I hope to be a Children's Therapist and someday want to help children through the mental state of cancer. My family and friends were my muse to get me through my treatments and I would not be here if it wasn't for them! Cancer is no fun, but it sure feels good to take it down!
Hayden
Date of Birth: 11/25/2002
Hayden is the youngest of three children. Her brother Thomas is 20 and her sister Avery is 18. Since they have grown up and gone to school, Hayden gets all the pets to herself. She has two Portuguese Water Dogs named Leni and Holly and a very fat cat named Cleo. Hayden was born in Atlanta, Georgia and moved to South Carolina for a few years before coming to Rochester. She had never seen snow before she came North, but quickly learned to ski, sled and snow shoe!
Most days, Hayden can be found laughing at silly YouTube videos or playing video games. She has friends all over the world that meet up on Minecraft servers and hang out together. Hayden is also very good at Special effects make-up and once scared the nurses on 7N at the Golisano Children’s Hospital by making a very realistic missing finger wound, complete with bloody bandage! When the weather is nice, Hayden and her best friends can be found listening to music and riding in the golf cart in our neighborhood.
Hayden was diagnosed with LGL leukemia on September 14, 2016.
Jenesis
On August 17 of 2010, Jenesis Leah Shaw was welcomed into the world by her mom and dad Scotesha and Mike Shaw. Jenesis is the youngest of 4 children and pulse of her family. Jen or Jenny as she is affectionately called by her family is a strong-willed, expressive girl that is not afraid to share her opinions.
Jenesis is a second grader and loves her school dearly. Jenny is a very active part of the school community. She participates in Girl Scouts, 100-mile club, and dance.
At home, Jenesis is an average seven-year-old. She loves to cook, sing, take photos, run, watch television and cuddle with her dog “Tank.” Jenny’s favorite television show is Chopped, and she loves to play Chopped at home with her family. Making food concoctions is one of her hobbies.
On August 9, 2017, Jen’s mom discovered two small masses near her rib cage at bath time. Upon completing testing at Golisano Children’s Hospital, she was diagnosed with Wilms Tumor also called: nephroblastoma. Wilms Tumor is a childhood kidney cancer that usually effects kids 2-5 years old. Jenesis was a-symptomatic upon her diagnosis and had no signs of illness. She participated in this year’s Rochester Marathon and completed 1.2 miles in about 14 minutes after starting her chemotherapy treatment the day before.
Even with her diagnosis, she has kept her bright smile and optimistic attitude. Every Friday night after chemo Jenesis and her family have a Friday celebration. Friday Celebration is a reminder to celebrate every little victory, big and small.
Thomas (Buddy)
Thomas “Buddy” Greggs is a sweet 8 year old boy who is in 3rd grade this year! Anyone who knows Thomas calls him by his nickname Buddy. Buddy has Sickle Cell Disease and is just like your average 8 year old. He loves playing with Legos, toy cars and watching Minecraft videos on YouTube. When the weather is nice, you can find him outside playing football. His favorite food is pizza and his favorite colors are Christmas and Halloween colors.