Sam is a bright and silly 4-year-old from Nazareth who is about to finish active treatment for his diagnosis of Atypical Teratoid/Rhabdoid Tumor (AT/RT).  Around Christmas of 2022, Sam's left eyelid started to droop a little and his wonderful pediatrician didn't waste time in requesting imaging.  A small mass was found behind his eye but it wasn't able to be biopsied until March of 2023, when it was found that the mass had grown exponentially. Removing the tumor completely also meant removing Sam's left eye permanently to give him better odds at clear resection and complete recovery.  

Since discovering the mass, Sam has endured more than any child should - from multiple rounds of chemotherapy to proton beam radiation, countless scans, pokes, and more. But he is still one of the happiest kids around! He is currently participating in therapy at Good Shepherd Outpatient Pediatrics to adapt to life with one seeing eye but is quickly showing that there will be nothing to hold him back from being the smart, fun loving, active kid he is. Ever since his surgery, every one of Sam's scans have been clear with no evidence of regrowth or recurrence - we hope with every breath that every scan he has will be that way, because the world can always use more smiles like his! 

We realized quickly that we needed support in so many ways to learn how to deal with cancer making a dramatic and unwanted entrance into our lives. Our close friend, Brigid, knew of the amazing things PCFLV does and helped to get us to get set up with them. Before we knew it, food vouchers were sent to our hospital room for my husband and I; we had gas gift cards to help with the constant trips back and forth to CHOP; we had grocery store gift cards for when planning dinner was just one thing too much for the day; and opportunities to meet an army of other parents who have been in our shoes and were ready to laugh, cry, pray, and worry with us. Knowing we are so supported by this organization, along with our village of friends and family, has helped us be strong and present for Sam.

Written by Sam’s parents, Amanda and Nick

Please consider helping children with cancer and others in our community by scheduling a blood donation at Miller-Keystone Blood Center: https://donor.giveapint.org/donor/schedules/zip