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Casey Cares Paddle Up for a Purpose Pickleball Tournament

The Casey Cares Paddle Up for a Purpose Pickleball Tournament, hosted by The PutAway, was an absolute smash hit last weekend! The sold-out tournament brought together men’s and women’s teams to showcase their skills and support Casey Cares. The tournament was filled with friendly competition, giveaways, prizes, and the shared goal of making a difference in the lives of critically ill children.

Thanks to your generous support, you helped us raise $30,000! The event’s proceeds will directly benefit our programs, which bring lasting memories to over 8,000 critically ill children and their families. Before players began their matches, Clyde, a brave Casey Cares child fighting spinal astrocytoma and brain glioma, and his family had the opportunity to share their inspiring story and express the difference Casey Cares has made in their lives.

Congrats to our winners!

  • Really Big Dill Court: Alex Kukich and Ben Weckstein
  • Dinking Responsibly: Joe Deluzio and Ben Salsbury
  • Stay Out of the Kitchen: Adero Mandala and Lucas Randrianarivelo
  • Court Crushers: Michelle Salmon and Bria May
  • Drop Shot Divas: Sandra Deluzio and Rebecca Mackowiak
  • Smash Squad: Melissa Wilson and Terry Jubb

A massive thank you to all participants who stepped up to the challenge and backed our kids! Your unwavering dedication made a world of difference, and we’re immensely grateful for your support. Special shoutout to our incredible sponsors, including presenting sponsor CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, for making this inaugural tournament such a success!

Presenting Sponsor: CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield

Stay Out Of The Kitchen Sponsors: KatzDay Law, Kielty Bonadio, Bay Harbor Wealth Managment, Volvo Cars Annapolis , Crivella Family, Deluzio Family

Partners: The PutAway, Joola, DowntownDiane.net, Main + Market, McCormick, The Social, Margarita Man, LifeMed Institute, and Puppie Love

Full photo gallery is here to view! Check out our Spring Auction and bid on special packages and giveaways here! 

Couldn’t make it to the event? You can still join the cause – Donate today!

Monthly Giving Social Media Posts (5)

As A Mother

Happy Mother’s Day to all of Casey Cares moms, aunts, grandmothers, and maternal figures! Motherhood is a profound journey filled with its own unique challenges and responsibilities, but when your child faces medical complexities, the experience takes on a whole new level of complexity. Casey Cares mother Evelyn reflects on motherhood as the parent of a critically ill child this Mother’s Day.

“Being a mom comes with its own set of challenges and responsibilities, including navigating everyday life. Sometimes, you feel as though you may have it all figured out, and other times, you may feel defeated. Now, add being a mother to a

 child with medical complexities that further complicate the way you may view motherhood. Unfortunately, I know this story all too well, for my daughter Destiny was diagnosed at the tender age of 10 months with Aggressive Infantile Fibromatosis and spent four straight years receiving weekly rounds of chemotherapy treatment. She is now in remission; however, we’re challenged with other medical diagnoses that cause concern. I sometimes questioned the doctors about whether this ever would end. I get tired of getting adverse reports. I get tired of going to different specialty appointments. I get tired of crying and worrying throughout the night. I get tired from just being tired. Yet, I never get tired of being a mother. The laughs, the hugs, and the embraces remind me as a mother that I have someone depending on me to be their advocate and to help her fight alongside the battles she didn’t ask for. So, Mother’s Day is significant to me because I get a chance to reflect upon all of life’s ups and downs yet still have the opportunity to look into my child’s eyes and know we have another day to create another memory.” – Evelyn, Destiny’s mother.

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Let’s Taco-Bout Casey Cares!

It was the Florida friend-raiser to taco-bout! More than 150 local community members joined us at Lakewood Country Club as we hosted the “Let’s Taco-Bout Casey Cares Foundation” event in support of our programs. With fiesta-inspired food, an open bar, lively music, a photo booth, a shared commitment to making a difference in the lives of critically ill children, the evening was nothing short of fantastic! 

A heartfelt appreciation goes to event co-chairs and Casey Cares Board members, Lee Ann and Craig Reich for helping to organize the evening! WIth over $25,000 raised thanks to the community’s generosity, we will be able to provide an additional 250 summer activities to families and 500 extra Moive & Pizza Night packages to homebound children. As the night began, Jordan, a Casey Cares child diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, and his family had the opportunity to share their son’s medical story and express the impact Casey Cares had on their lives.

We are grateful to all the caring Florida community members who joined us and supported our kids! Your involvement made a significant impact on the +195 critically ill children and their families we serve in Florida alone! 

Thank you also to our Cinco Committee members: Michelle Caba, Margaret White, Cathy Smith, Patti O’Neill, and Lisa Panozzo.

A major thanks to all of our sponsors who helped make our inaugural tournament such a success, especially our Presenting Sponsor, the Sassano Family!

Pinata Party Sponsor: Tim and Patti O’Neill

Taco Tastemaker Sponsors: Amy & Keith King, Susan Hendrix, Nannette Adair with Rex Shoes 

Tequila Sunrise Sponsors: Steve & Katherine Jenson, Luhrsen Goldberg LLC, Stephen Rosser and Brett Price with Smart Shield Homes

Partners: Sarasota Entertainment Company, Party Popping Events, Grant Hemond and Associates, Card My Yard

Want to see more photos? Tap here!

CPS Disney Jr Wilmington Natalie James 1

Little Moments, Lasting Stories – Natalie

Over the years, Casey Cares has had the privilege of touching the lives of thousands of critically ill kids thanks to your support. That includes children who have now graduated to the title of “alumni patient” of our programs. While some leave our programs when they turn 18, others depart when they no longer meet the criteria of being diagnosed with a critical illness, experiencing frequent hospitalizations, receiving active treatment, or being on hospice care. Each alumni patient’s journey is a testament to their resilience, the support they have received, and the lasting impact that Casey Cares has had on their lives. Read “Little Moments, Lasting Stories” alumni feature with Natalie! Natalie is no longer frequently hospitalized!

Meet Natalie

“When Natalie was born, the doctor knew something wasn’t right so he ordered genetic testing. About 3 weeks later, we received the news that Natalie had a rare chromosomal syndrome called Trisomy 9 Mosaicism,” Karen, Natalie’s mother shares. 

Karen remembers that during the first months after becoming a mom to Natalie, she “was a mix of emotions – from scared to sad to upset. But I was also able to find moments of joy in between all of the times I was worried about how I would manage her care and her needs. At the time she was diagnosed, there was very little known about Trisomy 9, so we were kind of on our own when it came to learning about how that syndrome would play out for Natalie’s future.”

She continues, “Natalie cannot talk or walk; she has a feeding tube and will never be potty-trained, so she wears diapers. Although Natalie is a very happy teenager, she functions at the level of an 18-month-old and always will. She sleeps in a hospital-like crib and must be lifted out of that every morning into her wheelchair. She receives 5 medicines daily for reflux, saliva control, seizures, GERD and bowel issues.”

“Natalie’s gastric tube (G-tube) was placed in her stomach when she was about 2 weeks old because she can’t really eat much by mouth. We hook her up every night to her feeding pump so she can receive Pediasure or Boost formula. But over the years, with feeding therapy, she is now able to eat things like apple sauce and yogurt by mouth during the day. She can only consume about 6 ounces of food daily, so she’ll need to fed through her g-tube for the rest of her life in order to sustain any weight,” her mother says. 

Natalie and her older sister Rachel have an undeniable bond. Her mother states, “Even though Natalie is not able to talk, it’s clear to everyone that she adores Rachel and that Natalie is the light of Rachel’s life. They have their own ‘secret handshake’ and Natalie only likes to ‘wheelchair dance’ with her big sister.”

Finding Support With Casey Cares

In 2018, Karen learned about Casey Cares “through a support group at our local children’s hospital called ‘Chronically Cool Families.'” A few weeks later, she sent in an application for her daughter. Though the mother of two has fond memories of all the activities her family did through Casey Cares, Karen says, “I think the highlights were movie tickets, receiving the Elsa wig that she wore when her older sister played “Anna” in a Frozen musical, and the Disney Jr. musical. Natalie loves to watch characters sing and dance! Rachel has been to the movies with Natalie and has also shared the pizza and PJs nights with her.”

Reflecting on her family’s time with Casey Cares, Karen’s favorite part of the nonprofit has been “the compassion that we know is behind every gift and every activity offered – the staff and generous donors who give these gifts are truly wonderful people.”

After Natalie’s diagnosis, Karen faced new challenges as well. ” Natalie has had numerous surgeries and several ER visits related to respiratory distress. But by far the biggest scare we’ve ever had was when she contracted an infection from a spinal fusion procedure. She was in the PICU for 4 months and we almost lost her. Thankfully, the medical team was able manage the infection and Natalie bounced back. Having a child with medically complex needs is like a roller coaster ride and you just never know when the mountains or valleys are coming. You are stronger than you can imagine. You CAN do this!” she states.

As mother to a child with medically complex needs, Karen has learned to lean on support from other special needs moms and families over the years.

She expresses, “I have met my ‘village’ through my daughter’s school, and her hospital visits. They are my ‘go to’ people not just for resources and answers to some of our medical questions, but they truly understand what it’s like to raise and care for a child who is medically complex and has special needs. Doctors, nurses and therapists are wonderful, but sometimes, only other parents who are walking in your shoes really ‘get’ you and can be there for you through your darkest and happiest moments with your child.”

An Alumni

With Natalie now an alumni of Casey Cares, Karen finds this to “mean that we always have an extended family of people who understand our journey, but more importantly, we hope it may also mean that we can now provide emotional or financial support to a family who may be struggling and just may need to lean on someone else for a while.”

Going forward, Natalie will be cared for her by her parents, primarily Karen, but during the school day, her needs are tended to by her private duty nurse. She adds, “We are hopeful that as Natalie ages, she will always be able to have a nurse who can help manage her care.”

Karen ends with adivce to other Casey Cares families who also have a medically complex child. “Trust your instincts when it comes to your child. Find your voice and help them find theirs when it comes to advocating for their needs. Soak up every moment of joy, no matter how small, because as tough as it can be to raise a child who is medically complex, they tend to bring out the best in everyone and when that happens, it’s magical to witness,” she states.

Your support helped bring dozens of fun activities for Natalie when she was a patient in our programs! Help more kids like her here!

Casey Cares Staff and volunteers PJ Party 2024 (4)

#CaseyCaresBiggestPJParty All Month Long!

We’ve been celebrating #NationalWearYourPajamasToWorkDay and #CaseyCaresBiggestPJParty all month-long!

We cannot even begin to describe how grateful and thankful for YOU and every donation that has been made and will be coming in! From dozens of Amazon boxes arriving toour office each week and schools like Rosedale Christian Academy whose students brought in 1,726 pajamas, each pajama and gift card donation makes a big impact. Thanks to businesses to schools to religious groups to clubs, THOUSANDS of critically ill kids in hospitals across the country will get a familiar comforting item and it will bring a smile to their faces! We’re excited to announce our final pajama total in a few weeks and we look to reach our goal of collecting 17,000 pajamas!

We loved seeing everyone wearing their pajamas in support of our programs! Thank you! Did you know you can support #CaseyCaresBiggestPJParty any day of the year long? You can keep collecting pajamas and checking out our Amazon wish list or donate money towards pajamas here!

Founder Casey Baynes

Casey Cares Love-All Tennis Tournament

It was the perfect day for Florida tennis players! Wellington Tennis Center hosted the Casey Cares Love-All Tennis Tournament as a sold-out crowd of over 100 participants rallied on the courts to play tennis in support of the Casey Cares Foundation. With friendly competition, giveaways, prizes, and a shared commitment to making a difference in the lives of critically ill children, it was truly a perfect day on the court.

A heartfelt appreciation goes to event co-chair and Casey Cares Board member, Kristina Bostwick for organizing the tournament. Proceeds from the event will benefit our programs that provide enjoyable activities to critically ill children

and their families. We serve over 195 critically ill children and their families in Florida alone, helping to make a significant impact on their lives.

Unfortunately, Ryder, an 8-year-old Casey Cares child diagnosed with Short Bowel Syndrome, and his family were unable to attend as planned due to a medical emergency (thankfully, Ryder is doing okay!). Casey Baynes read the speech they prepared which read, in part, “Thanks to the Casey Cares Foundation, we are able to give [Ryder] a childhood and experiences that we will never forget. he finally knows what it feels like to be part of a loving family and to just be a kid. We are beyond grateful to be a part of something so incredible. Thank you all for your support.”

Congrats to the winners of our matches:

  • Martina Flight – Jill Giocli and Melissa Angel-Johnson
  • Chrissy Flight – Laura Maher and Tracy Carter
  • Serena Flight – Wendie Unger and Kristi Bomar
  • Billy Jean Flight – Paula Diaz and Debbie DeDea
  • Andre Flight – Gary Harmon and Dean Barrett
  • Roger Flight – Mike DiMayo and Michael DiMayo
  • Rafa Flight – Thad Millsap and Stephen Jochnau

We are grateful to all the participants who hit the courts and supported our kids! Your involvement made a significant impact, and we thank you for your dedication to serving Casey Cares and the children and families it supports. Thank you also to our Tennis Committee members: Nora Conlin, Jessica Moisdon, Missy Lee, Diana Drayton, and Amy Roberts.

Thanks to all of our sponsors who helped make our inaugural tournament such a success!

Silver Sponsors: Kristina Bostwick, Ellen Onofrietto with She’s The One Boutique, Jessica Moisdon with Color Fast Studios, Kari Levy with KL Luxary Homes, The Walters Family, Dr. Elizabeth Gonzalez Bruno, and Lauriston Segerson

Court Sponsors: The DiMayo Fmaily Foundation

Team Sponsors: Brian Buckstein with GSB Law Firm, Doug Marty with Wellington National Golf Club, Scott Lee with SJW Law Group, House Call Trainers, and Dr. Kenneth Jaffe, MD, PMSI Promos

Partners: Chick-fil-A, PDQ Chicken, Diet Coke products, Core Hydration, and Dunkin’

For more pictures, tap here!

SP Pittsburgh Pirates Christopher Neher (13)

A Home Run at the Pirates Game

Thanks to the generosity of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Florida kids Sawyer and Chris enjoyed a special spring training experience! Sawyer, who loves fishing and football, served as the Play Ball child by announcing “Play Ball,” and later enjoyed the Pirates vs Detroit Tigers game with his family.

 Accompanied by his parents, Jeanna and Ryan, as well as his brother, Sawyer’s attendance at the spring training event was a significant occasion for the entire family, who learned about his cystic fibrosis diagnosis after adopting him and his brother. Sawyer loved the entire day because of the “possibility of catching a ball and [eating] hotdogs.”

Since joining Casey Cares in 2019, Sawyer’s favorite activity that Casey Cares provided him with was a visit to “Monster Jam because it’s loud and a lot of fun,” he says.

With Casey Cares, the 11-year-old loves that the nonprofit, “helps brighten up kid’s days.”

Joining Sawyer was 16-year-old Christopher, who is also diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. Chris had the honor of throwing the first pitch and later enjoyed the Pirates game with his mother and father Michelle and Chris, along with his younger sister Ayla.

His favorite activity that Casey Cares provided him with was also the watching Monster Jam because “I love Grave Digger. I had a Power Wheels one when I was little that I could drive,” he says.

With Casey Cares, Chris loves that, “I get to do fun stuff with my family that we wouldn’t or couldn’t normally do.”

Thank you again to the Pittsburgh Pirates for continuing to give a once-in-a-lifetime experiences to Casey Cares kids like Chris and Sawyer! These seemingly little moments truly make lasting memories for critically ill children who undergo challenging medical treatments. Casey Cares always appreciates in-kind donations of tickets to sporting events for the kids in our programs! Please email them to our Program Director Summer at [email protected].

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Let’s Groove Tonight at the 24th Annual Casey Cares Totally 80’s Gala

The Casey Cares 24th Annual Totally 80’s Gala was a rad night celebrating all of Casey Cares amazing programs and activities for critically ill children!

Beginning with a sparkling cocktail hour that included amazing food, drinks, a classic 80’s prom backdrop, and live jazz music, guests immediately were taken back to the 80’s! They even got to take pictures with the Charm City Ghostbusters group who made sure that our event was ghost-free!

The fun was emceed by the fantastic Weather Channel meteorologist and longtime Casey Cares supporter Lynette Charles and newcomer Stevie Daniels, the Weekday Morning meteorologist at WMAR.

Guests bid on amazing live and silent auction items – destination trips, a Jimmy Buffet guitar, VIP tickets to a Washington Capitals game,  and more! 

In addition, we showed a video highlighting one of our Casey Cares families. Micah is 6 years old and diagnosed with LAMA2 congenital muscular dystrophy. The video, sponsored by the Bostwick Family, illustrated the journey that Micah and his family have gone through and how much Casey Cares continues to support them. You can watch the video here.

 The night ended with happy guests showing off their dancing skills! 

A massive thanks to the National Foundation for Affordable Housing Solutions, Arco Management Corp/MMS Group, Arfaa Law Group, CohnReznick, King & Spalding LLP, The Bostwick Family, and Weltchek Mallahan & Weltchek for your generous sponsorships! 

Gold Sponsors: Carding Group, EagleBank, Gragg Cardona Souadi, Henry A. Strohminger Family Foundation, MileOne, and Paul Capodanno with Capitol Wealth Management Group

Silver Sponsors: DiMayo Family Foundation, Ellin & Tucker, Live! Casino & Hotel, Reno & Cavanaugh, Salsbury Sullivan Law, and The Herman & Walter Samuelson Children’s Hospital at Sinai

Bronze Sponsors: Arnall Golden Gregory LLP, Constellation, CR of Maryland, Fulton Bank, Goodman-Gable-Gould, Adjusters International, Goulston & Storrs, Heineken, Janice & Greg Gallagher, Riverdrop Coaching & Consulting, Ruppert Properties, and Sons of The American Legion

Thank you to our wonderful media and in-kind sponsors: HeidnSeek Entertainment, DowntownDiane.net, WCBM Talk Radio, Bridge Tower Media – The Daily Record, Baltimore Magazine, Focus On Women Magazine, CityPeek, Atlantic Caterers, Berger Cookies, Charm City Ghostbusters, Electric Events DC, Tom Reyes & Friends, Triangle Sign Services, and White Clover Floral Events

Casey Cares founder and executive director Casey Baynes, presented our annual Champion of Children Awards to Natalie Arteen and Kevin Ebert from M&T Bank. As the recipient of our Champion of Children Award, M&T Bank has been a devoted supporter of Casey Cares families since 2007. From suite tickets to Capitals, Flyers, Wizards, and NCAA games to amazing concerts like Dua Lipa, Jonas Brothers and John Mayer, to sponsorships of our major yearly fundraisers, M&T Bank has made a significant difference in the lives of those we serve.

Casey Cares also wants to extend our thanks to Peter Watts from Five Arrows Photography and Teza Monet for the incredible pictures of the gala. 

Thank you to everyone for your continued support for Casey Cares, our programs, and most of all, the over 1,600 kids and families we serve! Check out more gala photos here! If you could not make it to our Gala and want to make a donation, please do today!

SP Baltimore Orioles Sa'mari Weston (3)

Little Moments, Lasting Stories – Sa’Mari

Over the years, Casey Cares has had the privilege of touching the lives of thousands of critically ill kids thanks to your support. That includes children who have now graduated to the title of “alumni patient” of our programs. While some leave our programs when they turn 18, others depart when they no longer meet the criteria of being diagnosed with a critical illness, experiencing frequent hospitalizations, receiving active treatment, or being on hospice care. Each alumni patient’s journey is a testament to their resilience, the support they have received, and the lasting impact that Casey Cares has had on their lives. Read our first ever “Little Moments, Lasting Stories” alumni feature with Sa’Mari! Sa’Mari is no longer actively receiving treatment and she is no longer frequently hospitalized!

Sa’Mari Strong

After becoming Sa’Mari’s mother, Samia remembers, “thinking that I was blessed to have such a good baby. From the time Sa’Mari was born, she slept through the night and rarely ever cried. She was a very content baby girl.”

However, Samia first noticed something unusual with her daughter’s pupil. 

“I first suspected something was going on when Sa’Mari was about two months old. I’d notice a white spot in her left pupil when I would take pictures of her with flash and sometimes even without flash, I would see it,” Samia states.

She continues, “Sa’Mari was diagnosed with bilateral retinoblastoma when she was four months old. Her original pediatrician referred us to a children’s eye doctor at Kids Eye Care of Maryland. From there the eye doctor then referred us to a specialist in Philadelphia at Wills Eye Hospital who confirmed her diagnosis. They advised us to start chemotherapy right away and that was what we did.”

“Even after our family learned of her diagnosis, I noticed that she was still always very happy and in good spirits all while going through treatment. She almost never had bad or sad days from what we all could see, and I was so grateful for that,” Samia notes.

After Sa’Mari’s retinoblastoma diagnosis, which is rare form of cancer that rapidly develops in the retina (the very back part of the eye), “her day-to-day care wasn’t very different from the average child. In fact, it may have been easier because of how easy going and calm she always was. As a baby the only time she’d really cry, or fuss was when she’d have to get labs or needles.”

Samia adds, “Throughout the years of her treatment, she was always positive aside from that which made caring for her fairly easy. I would say it has changed because she is older and more curious of things like why she looks different than other children and explaining that to her would likely be the hardest part of caring for her.”

Finding Support With Casey Cares

As her young daughter went through numerous therapies and treatments, Samia “learned about Casey Cares through my late aunt Sharina, who’s son, Uriyah is a part of Casey Cares.”

Having joined Casey Cares when she was two, Sa’Mari loved going to the Orioles baseball games, shows like Disney on Ice, and Ringling Circus.

“Our favorite activities were anything we could do together as a family. There was nothing we didn’t enjoy!” Samia says.

Reflecting on her family’s time with Casey Cares, Samia “loved that Casey Cares takes care of the whole family and makes sure to include everyone. Sa’Mari has been able to experience so much with her sisters and our family that I’m not sure we would’ve been able to do without Casey Cares.”

After Sa’Mari was diagnosed with cancer, Samia faced new challenges as well. “Being as though Sa’Mari’s treatment was so frequent, I couldn’t fully commit to a job until she completed treatment. Every time we’d think we were in the clear the tumor would return and we would have to start treatment again,” she states.

But, Samia credits her village for helping Sa’Mari, and herself, stay strong. “I can say that I have a great village behind us. We have received so much support over the years from numerous people including Casey Cares and other organizations. We have gotten a lot of support from our families, some of them even taking the time to come and stay with us for the week that she would receive treatment. We wouldn’t have made it this far without our village!”

She also notes that “my advice to any family with a medically complex child would be to just take everything one day at a time. While your child is most important, make sure to still take care of yourself and remember that you can’t pour from an empty glass so make your mental health and well being a priority as well as theirs.”

2023 marked Sa’Mari’s first full year in her life that was completely cancer free! The family celebrated her end of treatment with 5 day trip to Disney World for her 3rd birthday. “It was so fun and memorable for our whole family,” Samia says.

An Alumni

After years of endless treatments and surgeries, Sa’Mari’s care going forward has changed.

Her mother explains, “Sa’Mari is able to live a normal life. Since ending treatment she’s enrolled in daycare, made tons of new friends, and been able to just relax without all of the stress of frequent hospital visits. We still have a little ways to go before she’s completely in the clear but we’re grateful for every moment we have together no matter what it is.”

She adds, “It’s a bittersweet feeling becoming an alumni of Casey Cares because we’ve been able to make so many memories as a family with the program. It’s brought us together in many ways. I’m glad that with Sa’Mari becoming an alumni, another child will be able to become apart of the program and be able to create the memories as well just like she did.”

Samia concludes, “Sa’Mari has formed a strong bond with just about every person she’s ever met. Her spirit is truly something I’ve never witnessed until I had her. She is one of the sweetest little souls I’ve ever met. She’s nothing short of one of a kind.”

Your support helped bring dozens of fun activities for Sa’Mari when she was a patient in our programs! Help more kids like her here!

Giana Gude pj final

Alumni Patient Giana Collects Hundreds of Pajamas

11-year-old acute lymphoblastic leukemia survivor, Giana completed her 9th annual pajama drive for the Casey Cares Foundation, who supported her throughout her treatments. Her final pajama count when she dropped them off at Casey Cares’ office with her friend Josephine was 270!

Giana started collecting pajamas for Casey Cares in 2015 at 3 years old. She joined Casey Cares programs that same year and participated in activities such as visits to the National Aquarium and Port Discovery, attending a Princess Ball, watching the skaters at Disney On Ice, and more.

Thanks to donations from friends and family, her total for the “past nine years is at 2,351 pajamas” says Rita, Giana’s mother. 

The idea of collecting the pajamas happened before Giana’s treatment began. “Before being transferred to John Hopkins Hospital, the first hospital gave Giana a children’s gown that was too big for her little body. It was cold in the ER room and the gown’s fabric didn’t help keep Giana warm. The positive to those gowns is that it helped with her IV line that was attached to her port but all kids in hospital don’t have a port attached,” Rita states.

The family soon received new pajamas thanks to Casey Cares Kami’s Jammies program which provides new sleepwear to pediatric patients program on extended hospital stays and families who are isolated and homebound with a critically ill child.

Giana’s family keeps collecting pajamas, “for those kids & families that find themselves in the same situation as us.”

“During Giana’s first phase of treatment, we spent most of the month at John Hopkins Children’s hospital in-patient care. When she was released to go home, we received a package from Casey Cares which included a card, pajamas, popcorn, and a gift card to purchase a movie. We were thankful to be home but also thankful to create a moment as a family besides the usual medications, tubes, and treatment plans,” Rita adds.

She also explains, “When Giana finished chemo, we were so happy to move to the next stage of life after cancer. Although there is always that little voice that says it could come back, so I purposely try to focus on the facts. Prior to her last day of chemo we celebrated the other endings such as the last day of steroids which she particularly hates, last day of methotrexate, and the last day of intrathecal chemo.”

“It was magical to watch her ring the bell because we knew the meaning of it even though she might not have at the time.  She does have late effects of childhood cancer treatment living as a childhood cancer survivor,” Rita says.

Rita states, “The two most memorable activities we had with Casey Cares were celebrating Giana’s 2nd birthday given that she wasn’t allowed to be around other kids due to her immunity. We were so touched with Casey Cares ability to make memories in difficult life circumstances.”

Casey Cares volunteers had surprised the young girl at her front door with cake, balloons, cupcakes and presents via our Birthday Blast program.

The mother continues, “The second memory is being selected by Casey Cares to go to Give Kids the World Village and Disney World in 2016. There was a party at the airport where hopeful energies were kept high until it was time to depart. I remember crying as we boarded the plane because everyone was so kind and all the focus was on celebrating the children.” 

Giana became a Casey Cares alumni patient in 2019 after the conclusion of regular leukemia treatment. Today, Giana is now 11 years old and loves 5th grade along with the independence it brings.

“She’s a 5th grade school safety where she helps PreK through 1st grade students with carrying their bags, walking through the drop off parking lot, and navigating the hallway to their classroom,” says Rita.

Rita concludes, “Giana enjoys scootering and riding her bike outdoors, animals, making slime & friendship bracelets, and listening to her favorite artists Taylor Swift and Melanie Martinez. She’s really into skincare and loves facemasks. She’s a Junior in girl scouts and swims year-round.”

The pajamas donated by Giana will be counted towards Casey Cares Foundation’s 9th Annual #CaseyCaresBiggestPJParty held during the month of April. The pajamas will be distributed all year long to pediatric patients and home-bound critically ill kids via the Kami’s Jammies program in eight states and D.C. Want to sign up for our PJ Party? Click here! Plus, check out all the photos of Giana’s drop off thanks to the Capital Gazette here!

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