Meet Wilder: the little warrior behind our mission
Wilder is a silly, fun-loving little boy with the greatest smile. He loves monster trucks, dinosaurs, making people laugh, and snuggling with the people he loves. He’s happiest just being a kid, something he’s had to fight harder for than most.
A warrior from the very beginning
Cancer wasn’t Wilder’s first battle. He spent 21 days in the NICU as a newborn and faced other health challenges throughout his early childhood.
Then, in November 2024, at just four years old, Wilder was diagnosed with T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (T-ALL), an aggressive form of childhood blood cancer. At diagnosis, about 90% of his bone marrow had been overtaken by leukemia cells.
His fight began with 35 days in the hospital, 56 doses of steroids, chemotherapy, spinal taps, bone marrow biopsies, and blood and platelet transfusions.
Still fighting
Nearly two years later, Wilder is still in treatment, and it continues until March 2028. After that come years of monitoring for relapse and for the long-term effects of chemotherapy.
His leukemia has responded to treatment, but the treatment itself has become another battle. Severe, recurring sores caused by chemotherapy toxicity have left him in tremendous pain. Despite countless appointments, specialists, and treatments, we still haven’t found a lasting solution. Watching him suffer from the very medicines meant to save his life has been heartbreaking.
Cancer affects the whole family
Through it all, we’ve tried to keep some sense of normal for Wilder and his six siblings. But childhood cancer touches everyone in a family: emotionally, physically, and financially.
In September 2026, Wilder’s dad unexpectedly lost his job, and with it a major part of our household income. Around the same time, we learned we’re expecting our eighth child. This baby is a blessing, but severe pregnancy sickness has made it hard for Mom to work consistently while managing Wilder’s care.
We’re now facing unemployment, mounting expenses, and the possibility of another long hospital stay, all while trying to keep our family afloat.
That’s why Wilder’s Warriors exists
Right now, our mission is to help our family through this incredibly hard chapter, so we can focus on getting Wilder through treatment.
In the future, we hope Wilder’s Warriors grows into something much bigger: a community that supports childhood cancer families, raises awareness, and advocates for better care, especially for treatment complications and the lifelong challenges survivors face. We want to turn what we’ve lived through into something meaningful for other families walking this same road.
Wilder’s story is still being written. Our hope is that his fight will someday make a difference for countless other children.
How you can help
Every gift helps keep our family afloat while Wilder finishes treatment, whether it’s a donation, a share, or a little of your time.
