Nora’s Warriors is a Walk for Children’s team that has been walking together since our first Walk for Children’s back in 2016 in honor of their warrior, Nora. Below, Nora’s mom, Andi, tells the story of how Nora’s Warriors came to be.
Hearing that your baby has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer is not something you can prepare for or imagine unless it has happened to you. It is one of those moments that defines your life completely.
For us, there was life before February 23, 2016, and there is life after. That day stands alone.
Silver Linings: Becoming Nora’s Warriors
I have always sought to find the silver linings and the good in Nora’s journey. There have been several: her amazing oncology team; her in-home nurses, Jen and Liz, who became friends and extended family that year; the hospital staff at UPMC Children’s — from the nurses and PCTs to the facilities and housekeeping staff; every single person was (as 9-year-old Nora would say) a “bucket-filler.”
So much care went into every single stay there. Through every single finger poke, every blood draw, every temperature check, every blood pressure reading, and every scan, we never felt anything but the utmost care for Nora, and for all of us.
During one of our 10 stays, I wandered down to the atrium, Nora in one arm, IV pole being pushed by the other. This was the day we learned about Walk for Children’s. It was going to be the first-ever, and they were looking for teams and walkers. I wrote down Nora’s Warriors on the paper, and from that moment on, we have met so many amazing people; fellow patient champions, volunteers — heck, even Brett Keisel!
Ten Years of Nora’s Warriors
That first year at Walk for Children’s, Nora was only 8 months old, so we pulled her in a wagon. Our girl had her grandparents, aunts, and cousins there with her. We were bringing up the tail end of the walk. There, we met another family, in their matching “Amelia’s Angels” shirts. We got to chatting and discovered that Amelia was also a neuroblastoma warrior. What were the chances? It was another silver lining to meet Amelia, and her beautiful, supportive family.
This year will be our tenth year walking for UPMC Children’s. It is one of the greatest honors of my life to be able to complete this walk with my own warrior, and hundreds of her fellow patient champions. I am so grateful for all that this hospital has done for Nora, and in turn for me. There is nothing I wouldn’t do to raise awareness and funding for the wonderful, amazing hospital that saved my girl.
I always say that it is an incredible place that I wish I knew nothing about, but since I do, I will be here for them in every way that I can be.
It’s a BIG Year for Walk for Children’s
This year, we are celebrating 10 years of Walk for Children’s – that’s 10 years of patient journeys and millions of dollars raised. If you’ve never joined us before, this is your moment to revolutionize children’s health. Join us in Schenley Park or from a location of your choice.
Registration and fundraising for Walk for Children’s supports our largest-ever fundraising campaign, This Moment: Put a Child’s Future First, supporting groundbreaking research, innovative treatments, and exceptional care that transforms lives.