5 year old Dane Johnson is an active little boy who loves trains, sharks and baseball as well as being showered by attention from his older siblings and large extended family. When Dane’s mother Julie picked him up from daycare in 2012 she noticed, Dane’s right eye was swollen. Not thinking it was much more than a normal bump active little boys are prone to, Julie became more concerned when it didn’t improve. Not sure what was causing the swelling, Julie took him to Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children where they were shocked to find out that Dane had a large tumor in his right maxillary sinus as well as his secum. Just three days later, Dane was officially diagnosed with cancer – Stage 3 Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

Since then, Dane has undergone treatments including chemotherapy and multiple surgeries to repair what the cancer did to his sinuses, ears and mouth. Through it all, Dane continued to be a happy little boy full of sunshine and joy. Dane is now currently in kindergarten which he loves, but struggles from some of the late effects of the chemo which have affected his sensory and neurological perception and gastrointestinal tract. He never fails to be the joyful child we always love. Julie maintains hope that Dane will have a long life ahead of him and have a great career and family of his own someday. As difficult as her journey has been, she credits her family for helping her make it through.

Quote: You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray. You’ll never know dear, how much I love you – please don’t take my sunshine away.

Information provided by Julie Johnson, Dane’s Mom
May 2015