William has a smile that lights up a room. He’s a bright and enthusiastic 5-year-old who makes his family laugh every single day. He also has the biggest heart – especially when it comes to his brother and sister.

William may be all smiles, but he’s had more than his fair share of hardships in his young life. When William was just 9 months old, he was diagnosed with stage IV neuroblastoma. His family was shocked – the only sign was a bit of bruising around his eyes, otherwise William had seemed like a happy, healthy baby.

Soon after, he underwent chemotherapy treatments to combat his cancer. It was challenging for his family to be apart while COVID-19 regulations at the hospital limited their visits, but they persevered. Today, William is in remission!

William may be little, but his family is in awe of his strength. “Sometimes heroes are not big and strong… sometimes they show up in footed pajamas fighting cancer with a smile,” says his mom, Shanna.

Still, William’s family is dreaming of a cure for all kids. Their hope is that research will lead to safer treatment options, improve outcomes and allow more kids to celebrate more birthdays. 

William’s mom, Shanna, wants families facing the same battle to know that they are never alone in this journey. Although she never imagined becoming part of this community, she can’t help but feel forever changed by it.

Shanna looks to organizations like Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) to find hope for the future. Their family now act as ambassadors for ALSF and even held their first lemonade stand last year. William’s siblings are also enrolled in the SuperSib program, where they receive special support mailings. Having weathered this storm themselves, their family is grateful for the opportunity to pay it forward with their support.

“I wish other kids didn’t get sick.” – William

Information provided by Shanna, William’s mom
Updated December 2025