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 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.
Alex was diagnosed in 2021 with a very rare form of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoblastic Lymphoma when she was 19. She had been having chest pains, shortness of breath, and crushing pain at times when trying to sleep. Doctors began her treatment at St. Joe but transferred her to UM Mott’s Children Hospital where she spent just over a week. Alex is continuing her fight at home. She became a Warrior that year and her VIP event was a shopping trip to New York City.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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's story to be shared shortly
Devin's story to be shared shortly
Ethan's story to be shared shortly
Hunter's story to be shared shortly.
Jorgito's story to be shared shortly.
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