Angels of the National Angel Quilt

Tucker Scott Arnold

Tyler Stanfield

Tyler was an active 21 year old young man when he began to notice a shortness of breath and right shoulder pain. Over the next few months, the pain increased and he visited the doctor several times, even having a complete physical exam on June 12, 2012. Prior to the trip to the emergency room on June 13, 2010 he had been battling a cold and cough. I noticed his breathing seemed labored as we drove home, so we just detoured to the hospital. When we arrived his heart rate was elevated, he was clammy and oxygen level low. Following a CAT scan and X-rays, a Pulmonary & Thoracic Surgeon walked into the room. A chest tube and 3 different biopsy procedures the mass was diagnosed as Ewing Sarcoma which also surrounded the heart.

Tyler spent the next year completing 17 chemotherapy cycles (49 days) and 41 radiation treatments. The cancer continued to grow despite the treatments. Tyler wanted to continue to battle, but God had other plans for him. We are comforted by his legacy of Bravery, Courage, and Determination. He was and continues to be an inspiration and an example of how we all should live our lives. He never complained and was always worried about everyone else being happy. Tyler was active in Air Soft Military Simulations as well as Special Olympics. His monument includes the Special Olympic Motto: “Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”

Victor-Miles-Caplan

Victoria-Carmen-Jones

Our precious daughter, Tori, was born on her Daddy’s birthday. Tori was adopted at 2 days old and came home Mother’s Day weekend. She is our only child. Tori will always be the greatest love of our lives. At 8 months old she was diagnosed with a very rare and aggressive form of brain cancer called AT/RT. Tori’s prognosis was very poor. She defied the odds for 6 long years. She fought courageously and with grace every day. She always had a smile on her face and a kiss and hug for everyone. She was nicknamed “Tori the Tank” at the hospital because she was strong, brave and would battle anything.

Tori loved the color orange, Justin Beiber, dancing, gymnastics, school, holidays, her friends, the beach, building with Legos and the library. Her favorite books were Peter Pan and Corduroy. Tori loved movies and the playground. Her favorite thing to do was go on amusement rides. Rollercoasters were her favorite. The higher and faster the better!!

Most of all Tori loved her dog, Buddy and her family. She was funny and sweet and always kept us entertained. She taught us what truly mattered in life. We now take nothing for granted. She taught us to “live in the moment!”

Tori will always be our best 6 ½ years. Tori, you will FOREVER be Mommy’s Peapod and Daddy’s Little Girl. “We will always keep you in our hearts!“ “We love you Bigger and Bigger!”. Sleep well angel until we meet again.

Victoria-Rose-Rand

Vincent-Villacci

Violet-Brook-Antone

Maddie Powel

Vivienne-Esme-Martin

Wade-L-Ballew-III

My beautiful baby boy was born on August 28, 2009 and was always the happiest baby. Then came April 16, 2010, the worst day of our lives, the day our son was diagnosed with a brain tumor, Pineoblastoma, at 7 months old. I had taken him to his Pediatrician for what I thought was an ear infection, he had been slightly fussy. She measured his head and it was 1 1/2 inches larger than the previous visit, his 6 month check up, I then noticed he was slightly tilting his head. She sent us to Palmetto Richland Children's Hospital in Columbia, SC for a CT, because it was a Friday around lunchtime and she didn't want to waste time in our small town. An hour or so later the Dr. came in and told us our son had a large mass in his brain, life as we knew it would never be the same after hearing those words. He had severe hydrocephalus, caused by the CSF being blocked by the tumor growth, thus causing the larger head circumference, head tilt and random projectile vomiting he had been having, and somtimes his eyes would open really wide. Surgery was done that night to place a drain in his head to relieve the pressure. He had an 8 hour crainiotomy performed the following Thursday, April 22, 2010, in which a gross total ressection was acheived (all of the tumor was removed). Pathology came back 5 days after surgery, a highly aggressive Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor (PNET), Pineoblastoma, I was reminded often by the Oncologists that children under 3 have a particularly poor prognosis, babies can't get the treatment that older children can. He continued to do well, the hydrocephalus was still present after the drain was removed so a shunt was placed on April 29, 2010, his central line was placed at the same time. The protocol we were offered involved high dose chemo with stem cell rescue, we researched other options and decided on the SJYC07 protocol at St Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, which involved 4 months of chemo followed by 6 weeks of proton beam radiation and 6 months of oral chemo. We were discharged on May 1, 2010 and left on a flight for Memphis on May 5, 2010. He started his first chemo on May14. His 2 month scans on July 8, 2010 were clear. He continued to vomit throughout the 4 months of chemo, the last month he was put on TPN (IV nutrition) because of the weight loss, which worked wonderfully. His last round of chemo was changed because he had very rapid breathing with retractions, we thought it was a reaction to the chemo, but later found out it was a reaction to the GCSF, which is given during nuetropenia to recover faster. We celebrated his first birthday on August 28, one week later, at his last scans on September 3, 2010, as we had our car packed to leave for proton in Jacksonville, Florida, we were told it had metastasized throughout the brain and spine, Leptomeningeal Spread, and he had maybe a month to live. Leptomeningeal Carcinomatosis, a "sugar coating" of tumor metastases. In children, PNET tumors are the most common cause of letomeningeal spread, untreated the survival rate is 4-6 weeks, with treatment 6-8 months, which once again young children cannot receive, the end result is the same. We left St Jude that day and drove all night until we reached our home in South Carolina. Hospice came the next day, palliative care was in place. We took our last family pictures that Monday, Labor Day. The vomiting was ever present, he was put on Decadron, Morphine and Ativan. The first two weeks he was able to play, eat and interact with us, we had some quality time, then his symptoms worsened. The third week he lost his vision and seemed confused so he was given Haldol, then it seemed he was not able to move his lower body at all, he slept more and flailed his arms while awake. My husband and I made arrangements at the funeral home, indescribable. All of his meds were now being given through an IV bag, Decadron, Morphine and Benadryl, he seemed comfortable. His breathing became labored around the third week, with pauses in between, we were told the time was nearing many days before it actually happened, he was such a fighter. That last day, a Friday, exactly 4 weeks since we left St Jude, around 12:30pm his breathing changed and I knew as a mother the "time" had come. I bathed him, changed his clothes, told him how much he was loved and how blessed we were to have had him as our son and I held him in that rocking chair. This was the most painful thing a parent will ever have to endure, the dying process, the sounds of my son gasping for air, lasted a horrific 15 hours. At 3:33am on October 2, 2010 at 13 months old, our son took his last breath. He was a wonderful little boy who always had a smile on his face, even during surgeries and chemo, he just had a gentle soul. He loved spaghetti, waving at the moon, pulling his sister's hair, taking his Daddy's hat off, and resting in his favorite spot, his Mother's arms. If any war should be waged in this word, it should be against cancer, so no other family will have to endure this lifetime of pain. He is my hero, he is my pride. He is the courage I have inside.
WADE

Warren-White

Wayne-Thomas-Bailey-II

Wayne was a happy, energetic 9 year old boy who loved all sports especially soccer. He played on a soccer team called the "Steamers" for approximately 5 years. He loved building with Legos, playing his DSI, and watching the Ravens play. He always received A's in school, and the principal's award every year. Math was his favorite subject and he was very good in it. He wanted to own his own hotel when he grew up.

In late February 2010, not long after his 9th birthday, I noticed Wayne wasn't eating very much and was complaining of leg pain. I took him to several doctors. Finally, on March 1st he woke up in the middle of the night screaming in pain. I took him to our local ER and within a couple hours we were on an ambulance to John Hopkins for further investigation. He had extensive testing that day, such as, MRI's, cat scans, MIBG, bone scans, etc., etc... By the end of the night, Wayne was diagnosed with stage IV Neuroblastoma, high risk. He bravely underwent 8 rounds of chemotherapy, 11 surgeries, 1 round of radiation, several transfusions and tons of additional testing. On September 2, 2010 he received his first bone marrow transplant. On November 3, 2010 he received his second transplant donated from his sister, but Wayne developed life threatening bacterial infections, PCP pneumonia and after 21 days in ICU Wayne bravely earned his angel wings on November 23, 2010, at the age of 9.

Westin-Dietz

Willem Bolan

Xavier-Vincent-Bautista

Yusef-Al-Issa-Quijano

Zachary Braden Collins

Zachary Hormell

Zachary was born 8/21/1998, with all his family there to greet him as he was our first child. We waited for the doctor to confirm that he was a happy healthy baby boy.

The first few years of Zachary’s life were incredible. He was a chubby, healthy baby. He was a pciture of health, with rosie red cheeks and chubby arms and legs. He was so gorgeous, whenever we went anywhere, people would remark on how cute he was. He had his check up with the doctor just as we were told and followed orders to a ‘T’. Zachary started school and was very happy and smart, but a quiet boy that liked to spend time with hs Dad in the garage restoring a 1973 Mustang which one day would be his. He loved to go camping, fishing and play with his brother Steven. He loved model trains asn he and his Dad both had train sets.

Zachary was in the fifth grade. He was 11 years old. At that time, he started getting very tired after school and complained about stomach pain. So after numerous doctor visits, they found his liver enlarged. They sent him for a scan. As soon as the scan was finished they instructed us to go straight to the children’s hospital in Pittsburgh, PA where he was diagnosed with pediatric liver cancer; a rare cancer. He was such a trooper during his illness, receiving surgeries, chemo, blood transfusions. Zachary never complained. He always said he never felt fine. He loved his family; Mom, Dad, his brothers Steven and Scott Jr and his two grandmothers.

He loved Christmas and decorating. He loved the live nativity. During his cancer treatment, he and his Dad restored a golf cart to look like a Pitssburgh Steeler mobil golf cart. Zachary celebrated his 13th birthday on 8/21/2011 and then cancer took over his body. He went into Hospice and in the early morning hours of 9/11/2011 at 3:30 am, Zachary Scott Hormell earned his wings at the age of 13 and went to be with God in Paradise with all the other angels.

He is the sunshine in my eyes and always will be for the rest of my days until Zachary and I, his Mom are reunited again. His whole family’s lives have changed since he left us in the darkness. Zachary Scott Hormell battled liver cancer for 1 1/2 years and passed in the arms of his Mom who loved him dearly.
We love you Zachary and miss you with all our being. Love, Mom, Dad, Steven and Scott Jr., Grandma Pam, and Grandma Anne Till we meet again.

Zachary Isaiah Santos

Zachary Isaiah Santos was born on December 22, 2002 to Daniel and Deann Santos of Galveston, Texas. Zachary was born a chunky baby and was always considered as healthy until he was diagnosed with Stage II Wilm’s Tumor at The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, TX on March 10, 2004. On March 15, 2004, Zachary had his right kidney removed and underwent several months of chemotherapy. He didn't lose any hair or weight and never had to be admitted to the hospital within that time. We were told that Zachary was healed.

In November 2004, the weekend of Thanksgiving, Zachary had a limp to his walk in the right leg. When we took him to his pediatrician and some x-rays were done and the Dr. told us that he hated to have to tell us this and hesitated, but told us that Zachary had a mass growing on his right femur. We thought that the worst was over! How could this happen again to our child. We were devastated. Our world was once again shattered into pieces. That is when we knew that we had to take Zachary to an Oncologist in Houston, TX at MD Anderson Cancer Center. On Zachary's 2nd Birthday, we were told that Zachary had Stage IV Neuroblastoma. Our hearts literally feel. How could parents be told this when their supposed to be celebrating their child’s second birthday? We knew that stage IV left Zachary more at risk of losing his life and through the tears of sadness and fear we kept our faith in God that Zachary would overcome this deadly cancer. Zachary went through several rounds of chemotherapy, blood transfusions and procedures and once more had a tumor removed from the area where his right kidney had once been. Zachary then went one more round of harsh chemotherapy and on December 15, 2005, Zachary had a bone marrow transplant. We prayed that with the bag of 'rebirth' a miracle would happen and cure our son. On June 26, 2006 Zachary earned his angel wings. He went to Heaven to be with God and the other angels that have passed away fighting cancer. Zachary was a loving and cheerful little boy that was full of energy and life. He touched the lives of everyone that knew him and those that have heard of his story.

Michael Mack