Growing up, Reid was known as “The Little Fighter.” Before he was born, his mother Tina’s perinatologist warned her that Reid may be born with a disability or organ failure. When Reid was born in 2007, he had a small hole in his heart, but it healed quickly. His prognosis was good.

When Reid was just two years old, he was diagnosed with kidney cancer. He spent a year in the hospital following surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation treatment. Reid has had a total of 10 surgeries; the most recent was in summer 2018, to remove a benign tumor from his spinal cord. He spent his 10th birthday in the hospital. That’s when he knew he wanted to do something special for other kids.

Today, Reid spends every birthday collecting money and toys to be donated to patients at CHRISTUS Children’s. While Reid had some residual medical issues, his cancer is in remission and he continues to see his physicians regularly.

Rose was diagnosed with an extremely rare perianal rhabdomyosarcoma, a malignant tumor in the muscle tissue around the anus. Although there are approximately 450 rhabdomyosarcoma diagnoses each year, the location of Rose’s cancer was unusual and rare. The mass was surgically removed immediately. A team of physicians, nurses, Child Life specialists, and Associates throughout the hospital worked together to provide the best comprehensive care for Rose’s treatment plan. She went home after surgery with a few small stitches and an implanted port for future chemotherapy treatments. Rose underwent several months of chemo and brought so much joy to her physicians. Rose was declared cancer-free in September 2018 and is still in remission today. She has a larger-than-life personality and wants to be a movie when she grows up. Rose loves being around her friends, classmates, and teachers. Her favorite subject is reading, and she enjoys playing with her pets and tending to her very own garden!