At eight months, Ty loved to dance and listen to music. He was fascinated by wheels; he would stare down at the wheels on a stroller instead of enjoying the scenery during walks. Ty gave the BEST hugs. He also had a large tumor growing on his lung. The mass grew to be so big that he couldn’t breathe on his own and it blocked a major artery.

For a month we lived at the hospital while doctors tried to diagnose Ty. He went through multiple surgeries and procedures, including a blood transfusion, heart surgery, chest surgery, and biopsies of his bone marrow, spine, and the mass. We were told after the mass biopsy that the tissue looked like juvenile xanthogranuloma (JXG), but that JXG only appears on the skin, not on internal organs, so they didn't know what he had. For two weeks Ty needed to be kept sedated and on a breathing machine. Imagine not being able to hold your baby for two weeks.

On November 29, 2013, the day after Ty's first Thanksgiving, the doctors told us that they had waited as long as they possibly could and they had to treat him with something even though they risked making me worse. Later that day, Ty was diagnosed with mediastinal JXG. Yes, the same thing they originally said didn't grow on internal organs. Ty began chemotherapy. After 12 weeks of weekly chemotherapy and steroids, the mass shrank to almost nothing. Ty continued chemo for a year. So far, the JXG remains stable.

Now, Ty am 13 years old and like other kids, he love video games, rock climbing, archery, and creating Roblox games. But unlike other kids, he also celebrates milestones like being chemo-free for 11 years.

We're excited to come together to participate in Histio Hike Shenandoah 2026, a fundraiser supporting Histiocytosis Association. Our collective passion for this cause drives us, and we need your support to make a difference! Every donation—big or small—helps us reach our fundraising goal and directly impacts this important cause.

Here's how you can help:

• Donate: Contribute whatever you can. Every dollar counts!
• Spread the Word: Share our fundraising page with your friends, family, and social networks. Let’s spread awareness so we can raise more!

Thank you so much for your support! We couldn’t do this without you!