OUR SHEDNECK WARRIORS
Zoe Weber - 17
Zoe is our first Warrior. In November 2020, 17-year-old Zoe knew that something physically just wasn't right. She was having chest pains and issues with swallowing. She first attributed it to allergies but it just wouldn't stop. When the new year came around with no improvement, she had had enough and asked her parents to take her to the doctor. On January 18, 2021 Zoe was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. The Plymouth High School senior would have to undergo chemotherapy, losing her hair and, possibly, damaging her reproductive system.
Zoe is a true Warrior, having completed all of her treatments and is living her life to the fullest.
Her wish event was to have a normal prom experience with her boyfriend Spencer.
Autumn Waack - 19
Autumn was 19 when she passed in October 2022. She was our second warrior and her VIP event was a trip to see The Lion King the Musical at the Detroit Opera House. Autumn was known for her kind, loving and compassionate spirit. She was caring, creative, funny and loved to help others. Autumn wanted to pursue a career where she would help guide children through difficult health care procedures. She will always be remembered for her love of nature and her family. She will be deeply and sadly missed by those who knew and loved her.
Alexandrea blue
On October 1 2021 I was having a normal Friday. I had cosmetology school off that day and I decided to go and get my nails done for fall! I love all things beauty and I love all things self-care and Fridays we’re my days off so that’s just what I did! Meanwhile, all throughout September, I had been having chest pains, shortness of breath, and whenever I would sleep on my side there would be a crushing pain. This pain was indescribable I literally said “I wish I could rip open my chest to show you where the pain is” when I described it to my mom and dad! During my nail appointment, I got a call from my doctor's office saying that I could get a CT scan the following Friday to see what was going on. By the time I reached home, the pain was still there and it had already been a month of this pain, I and my family started to get worried. When I got home my mom took me to the closest hospital (St Joe) at around 8 pm at night. We walked in and the line was so long I didn’t even want to wait. Thank God we waited….they took me back for a CT scan and the doctor came in and said “mom can I speak with you alone?” meanwhile my dad is an hour away still working and worried to death. I sat alone in the room shaking, crying, and all of a sudden I hear my mom crying her eyes out from outside of the room, and from that moment I knew it was something bad. My mom walked back in with the doctor and with tears in her eyes said “Alex they think you have cancer” I said WHAT?! I was in total shock. I already have OCD/anxiety so we just thought it was from that. We had so many questions from there. “Was I going to die?” “What kind of cancer is this?” “Is it curable?” So many questions in such little time. Right away they put an IV in my arm (super painful) and they took me straight up to oncology. After many many days spent at St Joe waiting for test results to figure out what kind of cancer this is we finally got some news. At 19 years old I am diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoblastic Lymphoma. This is a very rare t-cell blood cancer. Oncology said I would have to be in the hospital for months with 2 years of treatment. After about 5 days spent at St Joe, they finally transferred me to U Of M Motts Children’s Hospital. By far the biggest blessing. I didn’t have to stay in the hospital for months, just a little over a week. My oncology team at U of M Motts specializes in my type of cancer which is a blessing! While in the hospital I had a bone marrow test to see if the cancer was in my bones (it was not thank goodness) but worst pain I have ever felt. Definitely felt like someone had beat me up in the back over 20 times. I then got more scans and a spinal tap. I have never been in the hospital for such a long amount of time but my sweet nurses made it special while I was there. So thank you nurses on floor 7 I will always remember and cherish you.
I decided to share my story and my journey because I want to share how raw and how real cancer is and how it may take a toll on someone’s life. I want to inspire and to share positivity and to share that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and this is just a stomp in the road that won’t last forever. I am a firm believer and I always have said “thank God even on the bad days.” I have also gotten the question “why would God do this to such a sweet, God-loving, young woman?” but I realized that God knew that I would be able to handle this battle and He would be right next to me through it all and He has been.
Lane Kleinglass
Lane Kleinglass enjoys riding his skateboard, spending time with his friends, and exploring the city. He is planning on becoming a firefighter, having received his state fire certification. Lane played soccer and lacrosse at Salem High School. In November of 2021, Lane began to experience severe pain in his leg that made it difficult for him to walk and do everyday tasks. Despite this, he continued to attend school but eventually, the pain got so severe that he went to the doctor. Scans revealed that Lane had broken his leg; however, doctors suspected that his condition was much more severe. Within four days, Lane was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. As a result, Lane had to complete three rounds of all-day chemotherapy and undergo daily radiation treatments. Lane graduated from Salem and is following in his father’s footsteps as a firefighter. Lane became a Warrior in 2021 and his VIP Event was a shoe shopping trip in the city.
Peyton Mann
On October 21st, 2022, Peyton’s life was flipped upside down. It started in August when she developed a thick cough that she and her parents assumed was just a cold. After being treated for a sinus infection, signs of improvement rose as quickly as they vanished, when yet again her cough returned. Her father, Matthew, took her in for another appointment where he pushed for an X-Ray to be completed, even after being told her lungs sounded normal. Results from that imaging showed masses in the middle of Peyton’s chest. After speaking with her pediatrician, they headed straight for Mott Children's Hospital where she was admitted for a week. During that week, multiple scans and tests were completed, along with a biopsy. From this biopsy, she was officially diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkin's Lymphoma. She immediately began a 6-month treatment plan and a PET scan delivered positive news that the treatment is working! Being diagnosed has not stopped her from participating in the activities she loves most. She continues playing volleyball, playing in the band, and volunteering in her community which has shown her so much love. Peyton is making plans for all the activities that come along with the senior year of high school and planning for her next step into college. She is contemplating studying child psychology and child development as part of a plan to become a Child Life Specialist. Peyton's Warrior wish was a trip to Downtown Detroit with her closest friends and they took in a show at the Detroit Opera House.
Andy Kelly - 23
Having recently moved to Michigan, Andy has not experienced many Michigan winters. In January of 2023, when his mom asked him to help shovel the snow, she could not understand why a healthy young man was having trouble with this task. He was short of breath, light headed and lethargic. When Andy started vomiting, he was taken to urgent care. The doctor asked, “Is he always this pale?” Initial blood tests raised concerns and Andy was admitted to the hospital for the first of many blood transfusions, tests, and scans. Three days later, Andy was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. His medical team decided that Andy, although 23 years old, would be treated as a pediatric patient at Beaumont Royal Oak Hospital.
Chemotherapy is not easy for anyone, but Andy seemed to have an especially difficult time. He spent the next two months in between hospital stays and chemo clinic visits. The side effects of the chemo were challenging. He had a collapsed lung, blood clots in his arm, and had nausea almost everyday. It wasn’t long before he lost his hair and lost an inordinate amount of weight in a matter of weeks. Unfortunately, Andy had to have a feeding tube to help with nutrition since the chemo took away his appetite. One of the hospital stays was a result of being diagnosed with Covid. The bone marrow biopsy did show that the chemo was working -the leukemia is slowly leaving his body. The treatment plan is expected to take about two years. Andy looks forward to watching baseball and spending time with his family this summer.
Maddie odum - 21
Hi, I’m Maddie and I’m 21 years old and at the beginning of the year I was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. Although I was diagnosed in January my symptoms started to appear a week before thanksgiving. I tested positive for influenza A and was told to just rest for a week, and I would be back to normal but that wasn’t the case for me. I was having trouble breathing and felt super sick. When I went to the doctors back in November, I was told that I had fluid around the heart, lungs, and a pulmonary embolism. After doing multiple test cancer was ruled out and I was told that I was just unlucky and that this all happened from a viral infection. A month later I went back for a routine cardiac ultrasound and the fluid came back. From there I was admitted into U of M and after running some test the doctors discovered a mass behind my sternum. After performing a biopsy, the doctors told me I had a rare form of lung cancer called Sarcomatoid Carcinoma. Although the news was not great, I have always said that I will never just be a statistic and that I can beat the odds. With such a rare diagnosis, my family and I ultimately decided that a second opinion would be a good option. With the help of my amazing cardiologist, I was able to find out about MD Anderson. I flew to MD Anderson four days after I was discharged and from there, they decided to perform a biopsy and determined that I did in fact not have a lung cancer but a thymus cancer. Still a rare cancer, I was able to come up with a treatment plan and kick cancers butt. I recently had my 5th round and only have one more to go! Although this journey has been tough, I am determined to fight so I can achieve all my dreams. I’m currently not enrolled in school due to my diagnosis, but when in school I was studying Speech Language Pathology so one day I can work in a hospital to help patients who have struggled with brain injuries and trauma. Although this journey is difficult, I am grateful to have such a supportive group of people who love me and are here for me every step of the way. Maddie's wish was to enjoy enjoy her summer by having a good time, all the time, including a trip to the Outer Banks.
TJ Brown
On October 24,2020, TJ's life changed in an instant. After multiple scans and tests and a biopsy it showed he had cancer in his left leg and he was officially diagnosed with Stage 3 Osteosarcoma Blastoma at Beaumont Hospital. On Nov 3, he had a very aggressive round of chemotherapy to try and stop the growth of the cancer cells but it was later determined it did not work and one month after being officially diagnosed, he had his left leg amputated. After the amputation he started began a long chemotherapy program and his cancer officially went into remission. During a monthly scan it showed the cancer came back but in his lungs. After two lung surgeries and aggressive chemotherapy infusion TJ continues to fight.
"I'm glad and thankful for the people around me that help me get to where I'm at now," said TJ as he toured Ford Field, met Lions players and got to watch the Lions live from a suite as his wish.
alex Mason-Moore
Early June 2023, Alex cut his finger at work. He noticed it was healing black and told him it didn’t look right and he went to his doctor and she ordered blood work. Alex was also experiencing pain in his chest and shoulder. Over the next 10 days Alex back in twice to have his blood redrawn and on June 12, he was instructed to head to the ER immediately for possible internal bleeding. At the hospital he found out the devastating news he has cancer. After 9 days at Henry Ford Hospital he was transferred to Children’s in Detroit where he stayed until the cancer was determined to be in remission. Alex absolutely loves all things Ford Mustang and Detroit sports and his wish was to go to Ford Field to meet and watch Lions play from a private suite.
ava Fredericks - 21
Ava was diagnosed in January 2023 with sarcoma. She had to leave college and begin enduring 16 months of relentless radiation and chemotherapy. On June 18th, with family and her medical team by her side, Ava got to ring the bell at C.S. Mott!!
We were planning a December 2024 Warrior Wish for Ava and her family in Clearwater Beach Florida. Unfortunately, the hurricane season in Florida killed that. The fun part is the planning all the VIP components of her Warrior Wish….so we look forward to delivering it to Ava!!
devin whitman - 24
Devin is a hard-working young man. Devin was diagnosed in June 2023 after breaking his arm. Turns out, his injury was related to Hodgkin Lymphoma. Devin had to leave his job and begin chemotherapy and radiation at Corewell in Royal Oak. When we had our meet n greet with Devin and his girlfriend, he told us, “This is just a speed bump in my life”. December 2024 and January 2024 were 2 great months for Devin. We delivered his Warrior Wish on DEC 17, and in early January 2024 he got to ring the bell with his girlfriend and medical team by his side!! And…he proposed to his fantastic girlfriend.
Devin is a HUGE Lions fan. During his intro call, Devin said he wanted to go to a Lions game as his Warrior Wish. So along with 2 other of his Warrior pals and his brother and girlfriend, Devin got his Warrior Wish when the Lions beat the Vikings on December 17th. They got to spend 90 minutes in the pre-game VIP area where they snapped pics and had great conversations with many of the Lions star players.
Ethan Conley - 21
We met Ethan in February 2024 while he was inpatient at CS Mott. Immediately, we recognized that Ethan is a Renaissance Man. His love of History, Civil War reenactments, German culture, Lego’s, and Trumpet at CMU made for great discussions. Ethan was diagnosed in 2022 with Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma. His treatments were aggressive and difficult. During his treatment, Ethan became friends with 3 other Shedneck Warriors (Olivia, Jayden and Hunter). Late Spring of 24, Ethan had a bone marrow transplant. The results were positive, and Ethan is on the road to normalcy.
For Ethan, his Warrior Wish ideas have been challenge. We have not delivered his Wish yet, but are currently planning it with him. Whatever it is, we know it will be great fun to plan it.
Hunter Smith - 24
We met this wonderful young man while he was at CS Mott 7East infusion clinic in February 2024. His compassion and selflessness towards those in the clinic as he was incredible to witness. We will never forget being present. Diagnosed in 2014, Hunter told us his journey was educational and spiritual. His love of the outdoors was a great match for us, and we talked often about the various details of his future Warrior Wish. Once healthy, Hunter wanted us to send him on a hunt out West. Pretty thick irony. After his bone marrow transplant in the Spring, his optimism became covered by a quick and surprising decline leading to his passing on July 13th. May God, keep you close as you are one of the best we know.
Jorgito SHQAU - 19
When we met this guy know to all as J, we were blown away by his optimistic outlook. One of J’s comments was, “This is just a speed bump in my life”. J recently graduated from high school and was prepared to play NCAA Football. However, J was diagnosed with cancer in the fall of 2023 as a result of ongoing ankle pain while playing football. Shortly after, he had a portion of his leg amputated to prevent the spread. With loving family and a community supporting him, we all know he will accomplish great things in his life.
Like many his age, J loves football and the Lions. So along with a guest, and 7 other Warriors and their guest, we held a Shedneck Tailgate, and all watch the Lions beat the Titans in October from our Suite. What a great and memorable day for J and his other Warriors!!
Ryan Dempsey - 18
Ryan was diagnosed with T Cell Lymphoma in NOV 2023. While in treatment at Corewell Royal Oak, we had our intro call. Like many of our Shedneck Warriors, Ryan’s optimism and outlook was inspiring. He loves the outdoors, with fishing, hockey and motocross being favorites. Ryan recently graduated from high school and is excited to get to work. The best news is his treatment was successful, and he is now cancer free.
Ryan is a busy guy and nailing him down for a Warrior Wish chat has been challenging. We anxiously look forward to going through the process with Ryan, and delivering a VIP Wish for him.
Gabriel Novak - 21
Simply know to us as Gabe, he is a fantastic young man who has been on a true mental & physical journey since we met him in 2021. The start of this journey was a diagnosis while Gabe was supporting his loving girlfriend Autumn, who was herself battling the disease. Beautiful Autumn passed in October 2022 and the positive components of Gabe’s journey appeared only recently. As we tell Gabe, strength and character occur after a battle or crisis…and Gabe has shown all he is the definition of a Shedneck Warrior.
Like many in SE Michigan, Gabe’s Warrior Wish was to go to a Lions game. So, we invited Gabe and his brother to join our Shedneck Tailgate and watch the game in our Suite. It is a cliché, but with Gabe on that day, a picture did tell a thousand words.
Jacob Bohlender - 19
Jacob is a recent high school graduate who was rocking it on the football field when he suffered a fractured hip. Shortly after he was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer. When we met Jacob, he told us the Warrior Wish ideas he had. Skydiving was not very popular with Mom and Dad. Fresh off surgery, Jacob joined us for our Tigers outing. That’s when we knew this guy was not letting his situation impact his life.
Jacob loves the Lions but had never been to a game. Like several other Warriors, we included Jacob and a guest to our Shedneck Tailgate and Suite. But for Jacob, it was a surprise. The smiles, the laughter and cheering from this guy was gratifying to witness.
Jayden Muehlenbeck - 21
During our intro call, Jayden told us, “I live my life on my terms”. After being diagnosed in 2019 with bone marrow cancer, he had relapsed and was preparing for a bone marrow transplant. His outlook is all on the future, and we applaud him for it. Jayden became friends with a few other CS Mott Warriors (Olivia, Ethan and Hunter). Post transplant, Jayden got right back to getting his mind and body back to what it was. His “terms” should be in pill form.
Jayden told us he wanted his Warrior Wish to be giving back to others. We respect that, but this Green Bay Packers fan (Cheesehead) agreed to join us at our Shedneck Tailgate & Ford Field Suite. He brought a guest, and the 2 of them had a blast. Just like his fellow Warriors, he was screaming and waving the flag as the Lions crushed the Titans.
Joe Burr - 22
Joe was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer in 2018. This guy is a true Warrior. For 3 years, he was receiving chemo treatments. Joe became a national celebrity when his bone marrow donor was an ABC News reporter. The transplant result was good, but he relapsed and had his 2nd transplant at CS Mott in the Summer. We met Joe and his mom in November 2024 in a place where Joe could watch what he loves – sports. Joe has a few obstacles in front of him, but we and all kinds of folks including his fantastic Mom are in Joe’s corner.
We are hoping to deliver Joe’s Warrior Wish in the 1st quarter of 2025. We have discussed a few VIP events and will work with Joe to get one delivered.
Olivia Geisthardt - 21
We first met Olivia while she was at CS Mott 7East infusion clinic. She was not feeling well, but when we told he we wanted her to be a Shedneck Warrior, she was all cranked up. Diagnosed in the Fall of 2022 with a rare form of cancer called Germ Cell, she told us she has remained creative and optimistic. Helping her with that is her wonderful parents, and all kinds of support from friends and family. Olivia also became friends with 3 other Warriors at CS Mott (Ethan, Jayden and Hunter).
When the topic of a Warrior Wish came up, she told us her passions and then asked us to surprise her. So, we did, and big thanks to Mom and Dad as Olvia and 3 besties had a weekend in Detroit with VIP tickets to Moulin Rouge, hotel suite, dinner, limo, VIP at Born In Detroit, and a custom photo shoot from Julie. Looking at the pictures from that weekend and seeing the smiles is just awesome.