Big Fat Cookie Fundraiser: Turning September into Hope

September is always an emotional month for our family. On September 21, 2018, our son Brody was diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma at just 4 months old. September is also Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, which makes this time of year especially meaningful.

From the earliest days of treatment, Whip Pediatric Cancer was there for us. JJ, the founder, and her mom visited us often at Memorial Sloan Kettering, bringing toys, gifts, and most importantly, compassion. They offered shoulders to lean on and hearts to cry with. Our kids loved JJ, and her kindness carried us through moments that felt unbearable.

This September, we are honored to give back by partnering with Whip Pediatric Cancer through the Big Fat Cookie Fundraiser. A portion of every order placed throughout the month will go toward funding a new clinical trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering — a groundbreaking effort that requires more than $3 million to implement. This trial offers hope for families battling Neuroblastoma, and we are proud to support it in Brody’s name.

Looking back on photos from that time is painful, and the memories are still heavy. There are days we try to forget, as if it never really happened, because sometimes that is the only way to survive such a traumatic chapter. We still carry the weight of survivor’s guilt, having watched so many friends lose their children to Neuroblastoma. But those losses also fuel our determination to fight for awareness, for better treatments, and for hope.

Through this fundraiser, we want to shine a light for families walking this journey now and those who will face it in the future. Every cookie sold is more than a sweet treat — it’s a step toward research, healing, and the day when no family has to endure what ours did.

Together, we can turn heartbreak into hope.