brandon leavitt
Brandon's story
We first met this fantastic guy from Coldwater in July 2024 while @ MOTT. Diagnosed in March 2024, Brandon was being treated for Burkitt’s Lymphoma. Brandon plays baseball for Quincy HS and loves the Detroit Tigers. We invited Brandon and his dad to our Tigers outing, and Brandon was a mess!! He powered through his sickness like a true Warrior. Brandon and Dad also joined us for our Detroit Lions Tailgate where he and 7 other Warriors cheered on the Lions in our Shedneck Suite in October. Our gang are big fans of this guy, and we look forward to seeing what lies ahead for Brandon !!
When talking with Brandon about his Warrior Wish, he said “I love baseball, The Green Bay Packers, and the Outdoors”. So, we got to work and hosted Brandon and his dad for a great Detroit Tigers extra inning victory in the summer and were outdoors for a Detroit Lions Tailgate where Brandon met 7 other of his fellow Warriors. Topping it off, Brandon and Dad sat in our Shedneck Suite as the Lions destroyed the Tennessee Titans. The photos from both Warrior Events showed Brandon with big smiles. Mission Accomplished !!
andy walgenbach
andy's story
Andy is a red-haired Warrior who hails from Flint. His battle with Ewing's Sarcoma began in 2021. Relapsed in 2023, Andy has been in and out of Children’s Hospital of Michigan with various obstacles. We were not able to meet Andy before our Hoedown, but he showed up with his fantastic Mom, Dad, and Brother and we were so happy to hang with them!! Andy is amazingly optimistic, and we know he will succeed in anything he desires.
Like most Warriors, our introduction call to learn more and discuss their Warrior Wish…Andy said he was a huge Detroit Lions fan. So, our gang invited Andy to our VIP Detroit Lions Training Camp Day. And then we invited Andy and Brother Charles to our Shedneck Tailgate & Suite 2 days after the Hoedown. It is safe to say the 2 Walgenbach brothers had an awesome day!! As always, the proof is in the photos we took on that chilly Fall Day. Full of smiles and not thinking about cancer. Go Andy Go !!
leah pomeroy
leah's story
From the moment we met Leah in September 2024, we were blown away by Leah’s attitude and love of life. Diagnosed March 2024, the amazing Oncology team @ MOTT were treating Leah for High Grade Spindle Cell Rhabdomyosarcoma. Very rare, and very aggressive. Leah knew she was living on borrowed time, and that was not going to slow her down one bit. So, Leah created a Bucket List. She shared that with us. Again, we were overwhelmed with her enthusiasm for checking off the most important Bucket List items. We discussed with Mom, Dad and her medical team on 7East infusion clinic…and got to work. On December 5th, shortly after delivering Leah’s out-of-this world Warrior Wish, Leah passed away. Her impact on us and many will be forever remembered!!
So, what was the Bucket List Item that Leah wanted the Shedneck gang to deliver? The answer - a Fairy Garden Tea Party. Luckily, one of our all-star volunteers (Norma McKenna) hails from Scotland where these events are loved. So Norma set out on a journey to find all the Tea Party Items that Leah requested. Countless hours were spent finding the perfect vendors, and Norma and her wonderful team of volunteers delivered a Fairy Garden Tea Party @ the Gilda’s Club in Royal Oak that was “Way Over the Top Awesome”. The photos from Leah’s event are simply breathtaking. What an amazing way to celebrate Leah and what Leah loved, and with the most important people in her life.
joe burr
joe's story
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.
November 26, 2024
Friends and family: we are heartbroken. After a long and incredible battle against leukemia, Joe passed away peacefully last night surrounded by his lifelong best friends and his amazing mom Lee Ann.
shane ryan
shane's story
Shane is a 20 year old from Lapeer who was diagnosed with AML in August of 2024. Like all of our Warriors, Shane has an infectious optimistic outlook for his treatment, and is very appreciative of his care team at CS Mott. He knows he will have some difficult mental and physical challenges ahead of him but refuses to permit all those derail him from living his life on his terms.
Shane loves gaming…especially building computers. He also loves circuit and open wheel racing of all types. Speaking of love, Shane is recently engaged to his love Marisa. With his loving family and a community supporting him, we all know he will accomplish great things in his life.
Shane asked us for a Warrior Wish he could do with his brother Jacob. He wants to build a computer and racing simulator from scratch. Shane has provided 2 pages of computer items that the SHEDNECK Foundation will purchase and deliver as his Wish.
kobe curtis
kobe's story
Kobe just turned 20 in May, and hails from Three Rivers, Michigan. He was diagnosed with CML in August of 2023. Kobe is the definition of a Warrior. His attitude is simply, “My cancer will not slow me down to what I want to accomplish”. His care team at CS Mott tells us they have adopted his enthusiasm for his treatment.
Kobe is one hard-working young man. In addition to his love of the outdoors, hunting and fishing, Kobe has a love of automotive engines. This passion has driven him to pursue creating a small business. He has shared his ideas and detailed plans with the SHEDNECK Foundation, and we are impressed.
Kobe asked us for a creative Warrior Wish. His Wish is to have the SHEDNECK Foundation help him start his small business. The business he chose is Curtisboyz. He and his brother Devin will operate a mobile pressure washing and auto detailing service. We will financially help get Curtisboyz off and running while helping with a large network of waiting customers for Kobe and Devin.
jonah Roelofs
Jonah's story
Jonah is a 21 year old from Holland who has been battling Stem Cell cancer for a number of years. His care team at CS Mott loves Jonah and his attitude and outlook. Jonah admits his the obstacles ahead are unknown, but his faith and love of life will not govern his optimistic outlook. Assisting his outlook are his fantastic family and friends who provide the needed love and hugs to keep Jonah motivated.
Like many of our young SHEDNECK men, Jonah loves the outdoors. Fishing is tops on his list. Sitting in his boat is what he loves. Jonah also has a passion for dirt bikes and adventuring. He also enjoys country music, and we think we can deliver a Warrior Wish around this. Jonah’s Warrior Wish is to attend a Jelly Roll concert. And if possible, meet Jelly Roll as part of a SHEDNECK VIP experience. We are in the process of delivering Jonah’s Wish.
cody duncan
cody's story
Cody is from Northville, and when we met in April 2025 we were blown away by his medical journey. Since his youth, Cody had a long battle with epileptic seizures. In late 2023, he had surgery at CS Mott to attempt to reduce his seizures. During his surgery, Glioma cancer was discovered in his optic nerve. Now Cody would battle 2 different physical obstacles. The great news is Cody’s seizures are almost gone and his cancer treatment was successful.
With the love from his Mom and sister, Cody is doing really well. He is a huge Detroit Lions fan and season ticket holder. He loves to travel, and also enjoys mapping out his refreshed future plans of college or other to expand his love of the construction trade.
Cody has asked us for a popular and hard-to-get Warrior Wish. He wants to meet Aidan Hutchinson. We are working through a few channels to make this happen, and hope we can deliver his Wish.
anjalena juncaj
anjalena's story
Anjalena is in year 6 of her cancer journey. Diagnosed in 2019 with a rare form of cancer (1in 5 million), Anjalena and her care team at Children’s Hospital of Michigan continue the needed optimism that one day soon her journey will end with cancer being gone.
Within a few minutes of our intro call, it was clear to us Anjalena was special. Her mindset regarding her treatment and future is incredibly admirable. She refuses to allow her medical condition to dictate her current and future life. Supporting this is her upcoming Bucket List Trip to 4 European countries with one of her besties. Their itinerary and agenda is geared for athletes not cancer patients.
Anjalena asked us if we would agree to a Warrior Wish we normally do not. She has been saving for her Bucket List Trip, and asked us if we could give her some much needed pre-trip shopping and during-trip funds that would make this trip over-the-top. Done !! Travel safely and we look forward to posting some great photos of her Bucket List Trip.