Mary Kemp and Kaitlyn Lee will talk about the Society For Emerging Leaders organization which Mary co-founded in 2022 and which Kaitlyn is its Executive Director. This organization is made up by over 350 students..

When Kelly DiGiammo's son Brayden was 13 years old in early 2024 he developed troubling health symptoms, including going from being one of the fastest runners in the school to losing his breath and running very slowly, experiencing continuing colds, and then having a bout with the flu. Brayden was diagnosed late in February of that year with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Brayden successfully completed a Stem Cell Transplant and has been in remission since May of 2024. Kelly and Brayden will talk about his journey which has been a successful one and Kelly will also talk about her experiences getting involved in advocacy work for the cause of Pediatric Cancer. 

The bill AB 703 which was signed into law by California Governor Gavin Newsom and which I talked about with Sahil Metha on my podcast a few weeks ago is just one of the important accomplishments that was led by the Society Of Emerging Leaders, which was co founded by Mary Kemp in 2022 and is under the direction of Kaitlyn Lee. This law now gives the voters in California the option to check off a box on their state tax form if they would like to donate to the cause of Pediatric Cancer. Mary and Kaitlyn will talk about many of the other programs that The Society For Emerging Leaders have started in California to benefit the cause of Pediatric Cancer.

Jacob Orlick is now a senior in High School and making plans to attend Penn State University in the fall. Jacob was 11 when he was diagnosed with the Bone Cancer Ewings Sarcoma, had his right leg amputated, but has been able to live a fulfilling life which includes his work as a Motivational Speaker and his Podcast entitled Motivational Mic. Jacob is hoping that his career path leads him into becoming a Professional Sports Broadcaster. 

Dr. Katerina Levy decided to write her book THE HEALING Garden while she was a resident at the Broward Medical Health Center in South Florida. This book was based on the Healing Garden that she saw while at that Medical Center and is full of strategies that work for kids who are trying to cope with being diagnosed with any form of Pediatric Cancer. Dr. Levy is still in the very early stages of her career as a Pediatric Psychologist.

Being treated terribly by her swimming coach and eventually belittled and made fun of by her teammates, Meghan Macantee was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia in the fall of 2023, during her sophomore year at SUNY Potsdam where she was a member of the swimming team. Before her diagnosis, Meghan went to the emergency room 11 times where she was also treated poorly. In short, no one believed this wonderful young woman The fact that she was diagnosed with such a difficult form of Pediatric Cancer says it all. Meghan is now doing well health wise and giving back to others with her non-profit MEGHANSMISSIONINC. Meghan never received an apology from any of the people who so terribly wronged her. SHAME ON THEM.

Payton Alexander was living a healthy and normal life for a 14 year old until late in 2017 when she began experiencing symptoms that needed to be checked out. These symptoms led to her diagnosis of Ewings Sarcoma in January of 2018. Payton continued to try and live as good of a life as possible as she joined the Make A Wish and Little Warrior Foundations to try and help other patients suffering from Pediatric Cancer. Payton fought for 3 1/2 years with this Bone Cancer before her passing in November of 2021 when she was 19. Her mom Kim, who talked beautifully about her beloved daughter during our podcast, has been involved in the cause of Pediatric Cancer since Kim's passing, with her Payton Alexander Foundation. 

Tamy Bell's son Griffin was born 3 months prematurely in June of 2017 and 16 months later was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma in September of 2018. Griffin relapsed on two occasions after that but then in April of 2023, had a 3rd relapse that was more severe as his cancer had spread to his orbital bone. This relapse took away any realistic hope of further treatment that would help Griffin, and he passed away on March 18th of 2024, 3 months before his 7th birthday,

Sahil Mehta's older brother Ronil wanted to donate his brain to Stanford University after his passing from DIPG in 2018 in the hope that it would help another DIPG Victim in the future. Sahil took this request as his personal responsibility and then got so involved in the cause of Pediatric Cancer that he eventually worked with California Assemblyman Alex Lee to form the bill AB703, that would give the California State Taxpayers the option on their tax forms to check a box that would allow them to donate to the cause of Pediatric Cancer. This bill was fully formed and ready by July of 2025 to have Governor Gavin Newsom sign it into law. California is now only the 8th state in the country to have this provision on their tax form and Sahil is hoping that many other states will join in this effort to bring much more money into the cause of Pediatric Cancer.

Carrigan Nelson was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in March of 2019 and fought for the next 69 months with this form of Pediatric Bone Cancer until her passing on Christmas Day in 2025 when she was 24 years old. Carrigan was a truly Iconic young woman who did so much for the cause of Pediatric and Adolescent Cancer and was beloved by everyone that knew her. A very well accomplished Singer, Dancer, and Artist, she looked at life with Joy and nothing mattered to her more than trying to inspire other young patients with her singing and reaching out in compassion to help others in any way possible. Her mom Tammy, her Aunt Bonnie, and her greatest friends Deaven Pierpoint, Hannah Nasser, and Madison Quinn will talk about their beloved daughter, niece, and friend in this Tribute To Carrigan.

Tony Garcia will talk about his early in life Pediatric Cancer battle which began in 1973 when he was diagnosed with Leukemia  when he was 2 1/2 years old. Tony's treatment finally ended nearly 10 years later in 1983 and since that time he has been doing as well as possible for the past 43 years, as a long term Pediatric Cancer survivor. Now 55 years old, Tony just published his first book (memoir) at the end of January called MY CHILDHOOD CUT SHORT. SURVIVING LEUKEMIA AND FINDING PURPOSE BEOND PAIN. Tony also is involved in supporting Pediatric Cancer patients through fundraising, volunteering, and advocacy work.