"Super K" Kevin Linder
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Meet "Super" Kevin Linder! Battling Neuroblastoma since the age of 2, Kevin fought cancer practically his whole life. That came no where near stopping him from impacting everyone he met. He always smiled and cracked jokes (that only he could understand) but still made everyone around him smile due to his infectious laughter. Kevin's love for cars was a big part of his life. We at DC Strong took note of this and escorted 15 super cars for him to ride in and get pictures with! Kevin also enjoyed playing with Beyblades and Pokémon. In his care package DC Strong got him a massive amount of Pokémon cards, a Nintendo 3DS, Bey Blades, a large scale Lamborghini R/C car with a ton of hot wheels cars to match the sports cars he got to ride in! DC Strong also hooked Kevin and his family up with a private ride on the United States Coast Guard ship in St. Joe Michigan. Kevin will always be remembered here at DC Strong as one of the toughest cancer fighters we know to date. It was a complete honor to be given the opportunity to make his last few days on earth rememberable for him. We will always remember you Kevin!
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April 11, 2007 - October 1, 2013
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Zoey Pesch The Veterinarian
Zoey Pesch: April 2, 2004 - July 5, 2014
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Compassionate, kind and considerate, these are all words that describe Zoey Pesch. For someone who may not have had many years on this earth, she lived the days that she was with an open heart and an interest in all of the little animals that make our lives so much better. Zoey dreamt of becoming a veterinarian. This amazing young girl dreamt of helping others because she knew what it was like to hurt. Zoey knew she didn't want anyone or anything else to ever hurt. The wisdom and empathy that comes with such a noble dream, is not measurable by months nor years but by experiences. We can all learn so much from this beautiful young girl and we at DC Strong are so incredibly lucky to have had the honor of meeting and spending the day with her. Thank you for shining your light on the world Zoey.
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Dr./Professor Simon Cooper
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Time is something that slips away easily and appreciation of time is rare. Usually something drastic has to happen before one can openly admit how much a particular measure of time meant to them. Everyday something reminds us to take a step back and appreciate. Simon Cooper was a professor in the field of appreciation. We all find ways to go about our lives but we forget to marvel, we forget to truly experience and enjoy the moments. This young man was put through treatments, mornings/nights/days of agonizing pain, confusion, uncertainty and sadness. The thing is, even through all of the seemingly endless darkness, he found himself surrounded with love. Simon found himself surrounded by countless people who cared and prayed for him day after day, night after night. He saw the beauty in that time, as he did with every single individual aspect of his young life. We are just now realizing that the time we spent with Simon, was time that he used to show us that although most of the world may not truly see the beauty in something as simple as a story, everyone appreciates the time someone else takes to tell it. We want to thank Simon and his family for opening their hearts to us and ask that you keep them in your prayers through this difficult time.
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Simon Cooper: July 21, 2005 - November 5, 2014
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UNSTOPPABLE Mitch Rossen
Mitchell Rossen: July 1, 1998 - November 18, 2014
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Another great kid, gone too soon. We all have to remember that the reason it is so hard to say goodbye is because it was so wonderful when we said hello. Making an impact in life is tough, making an impact in the lives of others is even tougher. In the time that we have known Mitch, it has become very easy to see how much he touched those around him. You can ask for nothing more in this life than to leave knowing you made someone else's better. Mitch did just that. He made the lives of others better. Whether through a smile or a tear, we hope you all grew from what you experienced with Mitch. We know we have because his spirit and the goodness in his heart truly was Unstoppable.
Please keep his family in your prayers. |
The Lovely Chelsea Cronk
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Chelsea, a lovely and humble young woman who fought Metastasized Osteosarcoma since she was 16. Chelsea didn't give up. The pain, the weakness, none of it could stop her as she was intent on finishing cancer and moving forward. Recently we spoke about the value of the word, "Hello". A single word that could create limitless possibilities. We also spoke about how, "Goodbye" is never an option. We won't and we can't say goodbye because learning from someone keeps us from ever completely losing them. Chelsea is a beautiful, wonderful and powerful soul. Like a rose, her life may have been brief but everyone was able to witness the beauty that was and as a result, open their eyes and heart to a world full of people who need their help as much as Chelsea did. The pain of loss is such that we can't say Goodbye but sadly, won't be able to say "Hello" either. Thank you for making us better people Chelsea, your legacy lives on through those you have touched. Please keep her family in your Prayers.
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May 2, 1995 - May 8, 2015
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The Faithful Kahli White
August 2, 2009 - December 1, 2015
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We had the absolute honor of spending a day with Kahli White and her family on a trip to Chicago. A day filled with excitement, love, family and dolls. Kahli's cancer had spread throughout her lungs making breathing very difficult but not even that was going to keep this incredible, radiant warrior from cracking a smile to let everyone know that she was indeed happy. That was a miracle. For someone who was going through so much to be able to push through it all and let those around her know that it was okay and that she loves them, if that isn't a miracle we don't know what is. Words cannot express the depth of our gratitude for the opportunity to be welcomed with open arms and open hearts into Kahli's family. Please don't give up on miracles. Take solace in knowing that now there is one more angel looking out for the children of this world. When they are in need of strength or hope, she will be there to help them. Kahli will be the miracle they need to keep going. Please take a moment from your day and say an extra prayer for Kahli's family, for her friends and to let Kahli know we will never forget her and that sweet, precious smile.
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Jedi Master Maddux Hescock
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Strong, Certain, Humorous, Passionate and Loving. Words we would use to describe Maddux Hescock. This young warrior fought year after year but he also filled all of that time with what he truly loved and was passionate about. Star Wars found its way into his heart, legos found its way into his imagination and anyone who was lucky enough to have spent any time with him had found their way into a friendship. Finding someone so true to what they felt and believed, what they loved and cherished, is very rare in such a youth but still ever so rare in adulthood. It speaks volumes that through all of the pain, this young Jedi was able to enjoy so much of the life that was tarnished with a battle for the same. If their is one thing that we learned from Maddux (aside from NEVER joking that Jar-Jar is your favorite character), it's that we all need to be true to ourselves and let our passions fly high, taking us on adventures with family, with hobbies, with love or even across the stars. We love you buddy, Thank You for being a part of our crazy little family.
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May 24th, 2007 - May 28th, 2016
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The Daytona Beach Princess Gracee Jewtraw
February 16, 2006 - July 22, 2016
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While taking a trip to Daytona Beach Florida for a week long fundraiser, the DC Strong Team was approached almost immediatedly by a man who knew of a little girl who happened to be in the area that week, and was battling cancer. He shared with the team that this particular young lady would really like a ride down the beach if possible in our cancer response unit jeep. It took mere moments for the entire team to realize that we weren't half way accross the country just to raise funds, but to do something specia for a brave young warrior as well. When we met Gracee and her family, you would never have guessed we hadn't known each other for years. Such a warm and inviting group, Bob and Andrea (the parents) were just as excited as the kids, Gracee and Noah who were ready to jump in the jeeps and head for the beach! We met a couple of fun locals, one of which literally jumped on for a ride but nothing beats the laughter and the smiles shared when Larry, Bob, Noah and Bob Corcoran all got soaked by the pouring rain while Gracee and Andrea were nice and dry in the 2nd jeep. We can never thank you enough for the fun and memories we shared during this trip Gracee. To meet someone who happened to be from another part of the country as well and only around Daytona by chance and then be welcomed into your life so openly, is incredibly touching and a gift we won't forget anytime soon. Much Love Gracee, we are sending out prayers for you and your family.
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The Warm Hearted Elijah Rego
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Elijah Rego was only 3 years old when the lord called him home. Incredibly saddening to anyone who had the undeniable privilege of meeting this young warrior. So many reasons to shed a tear come to mind when the thought of losing someone with such a beautiful personality and ability to make everyone feel loved but we would like to give you a reason to smile. When we visited Elijah for the second time, on our trip to deliver his care package, it was clear that he was shy but so very excited at the same time. Three strangers and a slightly familiar face showed up to his hospital room one day with big boxes packed with fun, some stuffed animals and the promise that at least one or two of the items would surely put a smile on his face. His mother looked at him and asked, "what do you say?" He looked at Dustan who was kneeling beside him and said, "Thank you." Then he opened his arms and approached Dustan to let him know that he truly appreciated this gesture. At such a young age, Elijah knew the value of a hug. This memory gives us a reason to smile every single time. We know Elijah is watching over all of the hurting, sick and lonely souls of this world, ushering someone in their direction with open arms. Till next time Elijah, we will keep our arms and hearts open in your honor.
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Elijah Rego: June 28th, 2013 - August 28th, 2016
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Haylee Lewis The Family Stitch
August 10, 1999 - April 13, 2017
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It's difficult to share about Haylee not only because she has left this place but unfortunately, we didn't have the opportunity to genuinely get to know her. With the exception of Dustan who pushed so hard for us to get a giant "Stitch" (from the film "Lilo & Stitch") plush for her. We were trying to find where to get one when we had heard that Haylee and her family were going to go on a trip together to Disney as a kind of "last wish". No one should ever have to make a "last" wish. So for us, the best thing we could do was help with the trip. Trying to make something even a little better can be enough to make a difference. From talking with people who knew Haylee, it was apparent that she had a kind heart, a beautiful personality and lived life to the best of her ability. We can only hope to be as honest and driven to do what we want, not just what we need, in this world. Thank you for being part of our DC Strong Family, Haylee. Sending Prayers, Big Hugs and Much Love to you and your loved ones.
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The Humble Ryan Cowgill
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Less than a year, that is how long we have known Ryan and his family. Recently, Ryan's battle with cancer came to an end. At this time we wish to extend our love and prayers to his family as they grieve Ryan's passing. Knowing Ryan only a short time, we are still able to strongly attest that he was a very kind and humble young man who deserved better from this world. Cancer is a vicious monster that cares not for the merits of man nor child. It takes time and time again without discrimination. A symptom of a broken world. We hope to continually reflect the values shared by Ryan, to remain humble and kind.
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December 14, 2002 - April 4, 2017
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The Unbreakable Nattaly Brown
Nov 8, 2009 – Sep 24, 2017
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Nattaly brought so much joy and laughter to those around her. We recall a time when the DCS Family spent a day at the zoo. Chris, Nattaly's father, was playfully chasing her while she used her seemingly endless energy to run circles around him. Lucky for him, she finally stopped for a moment. Playing along with the fun, Larry yelled from a distance "Nattaly, go go go!" She smiled and nodded then took off in a blur. Chris took a deep breath and said, "Thanks Larry" before taking off to resume the chase. It may sound silly but this is one of our favorite memories. We feel so blessed to have known Nattaly these last 3 years. No one knows how much time we really have in this world. So take a lesson from Nattaly, just smile and run while you can.
"Nattaly did not let the cancer beat her, she played, laughed, and loved life to the fullest. On her sick days she would be outside riding her bike with a bucket incase she puked, on days we spent in bed snuggling she would find a way to make us laugh, or come up with a prank to pull. The end of her life was everything her spirit and personality emboldened, she was stubborn to the very end and did not go without a fight, she left on her own terms, and there was no other way she was leaving." - Chris, Nattaly's Father |
The Rock Crawler Ben Graham
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Bob, on behalf of DC Strong, was lucky enough to have met this incredible little fighter and deliver a care package inspired by Ben's love of police and firefighters all the way out to New Jersey. He said the look of excitement and joy on Ben's face was exactly why he joined the team and it made sitting down and opening every single toy in his Care Package (while sitting in the middle of a restaurant) so worth it haha. These are the moments that you all help make possible and the families we are beyond grateful to include in our own. Much Love & Prayers to Ben's Family
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Apr 17, 2014 – Mar 30, 2018
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The Unbeatable Regan Capps
August 7, 2001 - May 8, 2018
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Facing such an enveloping battle, like cancer, can consume every aspect of your life. Your health and well being for one but it attacks you as a person as well. Changing you into someone you would never choose to be. Regan and her family fought for her. Not just to get well but to make sure she had the option to find herself through all of the noise cancer made in her life. We were lucky enough to meet and spend a little bit of time with this young lady over the last year and we are grateful for that. Every child we have met over the years has taught the team something about life. Regan taught us to make sure we are the ones who choose what we want, and not let something else shape you. We will miss you, Regan. Sending Love, Prayers and Hugs to your loved ones. Thank you for being part of our Family & in the lives/hearts of so many others out there.
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