This September we're running in honor of Noah and the countless other children who have shown us what it means to be strong and defy the odds. Below is a little insight into Noah's miraclous journey in his short seven years. Please consider participating or donating. Thank you. 

June 2013 Noah was born with a baseball sized brain tumor. At just 10 days old he underwent surgery to remove the tumor, over 12 hours later they were only able to get about 85% of it. Two days later the initial pathologist reports had come back, Glioblastoma Multiforme, a stage 4 aggressive brain tumor. After confirmation of diagnosis and referrals we were discharged from the NICU and arrived at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 4 days later. He celebrated turning 1 month by having a line placed and receiving his first round of chemo. In all, he had 3 brain surgeries, 12 rounds of chemotherapy, and more blood and platelet transfusions through treatment than I care to count. Having the tumor grow as his brain developed, coupled with damage from the surgeries and lasting side effects of chemo, means Noah faces life long physical and developmental challenges. His fighter spirit is bigger than anything he faces. He doesn’t complain or ask why, just smiles and proceeds with a determination to overcome.   

They couldn’t give us survival odds, but felt he was a good candidate for the high-risk group of the research trial protocol. The survival rate for the high-risk group was only 16.7% and only 1 out of every 3 children for the entire study survived five years later. We are so thankful for the treatment and care Noah has received in the past several years. Every child deserves a fighting chance.