CANCER WARRIOR SPOTLIGHT: LEDGER

In the words of his mother Haley:

This is Ledger. He is five years old.

In December 2024, I noticed his eyes were no longer aligning. What I thought would be a quick ER visit—because I couldn’t get in with an ophthalmologist—quickly became my worst nightmare. After a CT scan, doctors found a golf ball–sized tumor and told us he needed emergency surgery. That night, we were transferred to the medical center, and that’s where this journey truly began.

After two surgeries, we received the devastating diagnosis: an aggressive Grade 4 brain cancer—medulloblastoma. We were incredibly thankful that doctors were able to achieve a total resection of the tumor, but we soon learned that surgery was only the beginning of the fight.

Treatment had to start immediately. In January 2025, Ledger began six weeks of radiation, requiring anesthesia every single day, along with weekly IV chemotherapy. In April, he started what will be nearly a year of IV chemotherapy.

This battle is painfully familiar.

Ledger’s father, my late husband, Jared, also had brain cancer: glioblastoma. After a ten-year fight, he passed away in November 2023. Just one year and one week later, Ledger was diagnosed.

Never did I imagine we would be here again. Much less alone. This is when Sky high stepped in. They try to give kids back the normal childhood that was quickly stolen from them. They connect families together all in this fight together. 

Despite the past year filled with countless appointments, MRIs, infusions, physical and occupational therapy, weekly labs, and medications—Ledger is still going strong. He has taught me so much about being brave and resilient at such a young age. He loves being outside and talks about becoming a “lawnmower guy” someday, because that boy loves to mow, dig, blow, and rake.

We are hopeful that this March 2026, Ledger will get to ring the end-of-treatment bell.