In December 2012, we gave a Kiss of Hope® to 1 year old Matthew Erickson who was born with brain cancer.

CKMC had been closely following the Erickson family since Matthew’s diagnosis, through updates from the family on Facebook. Cinnamon Kettner, Vice President, reached out to the Erickson family when she discovered they were planning their son’s 1st birthday celebration. After speaking with Matthew’s mother, it was an easy decision for CKMC to help facilitate a 1st birthday party deserving of this superhero.

Nearly 200 of Matthew’s closest friends, family, and followers enjoyed an Italian buffet and a star studded lineup. There were magicians, a clown, and face painters that kept the children in attendance entertained. Wonderful balloon sculptures of candy canes and a toy soldier lit up the party room. Even Santa and his elf made an appearance. In keeping with Matthew’s superhero theme, the party was complete with a visit from Captain America, Batman, and Spiderman. Matthew’s 1st Birthday was a wonderful milestone, and CKMC was blessed to help the Erickson’s in creating some great memories.

While attending the celebration, Cinnamon Kettner shared her thoughts on the day. “That was so cool! It all happened so fast. With a lot of help, once again, Cancer Kiss My Cooley has pulled off something pretty awesome. How lucky are we, that we have the means to put these smiles on all of these faces. God Bless baby Matthew!”

You can learn more about Matthew’s story by visiting his Facebook page.

Meet Amari! We met him through our friends at Lurie Children’s Hospital. We met with the family and found out they love water parks, superheroes and video games. Over Mother’s Day weekend we sent Amari and his family to Kalahari Resort in the Dells where they were able to play on the water slides and arcade. The kids were given superhero themed water gear and pajamas to help complete their weekend. Their trip was followed by a second trip to Dave and Buster’s where they were able to continue to fulfill their arcade obsession and win prizes. It was great to experience how excited they were and to see their faces constantly lit up with smiles and laughter.

Meet Emma. Emma is the sweetest 4 year old. Emma had never seen the ocean before. So off to Fort Meyers, Florida. The family drove down to Florida making some fun stops along the way. CKMC provided them with spending money and a beautiful 2 bedroom condo overlooking the ocean. Emma loved the beach and after the first day asked if they could do it all over again. The weather was cool, but the family made the most of it at the heated pool and visiting nearby sites. What better way to ring in a new year.

Meet Jamela or “Baby J” as she is often called. Jamela, our 70th Kiss of Hope, is the sweetest 7 year old. Jamela was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 6 and just recently got to ring the End of Chemotherapy bell at Lurie’s! Way to go Jamela!

Jamela is all girl. She loves dancing, singing and doing hair. So when Peggy went to meet her at the hospital, what better way to break the ice than to bring her a Barbie Hair Styling Head. Jamela loved it and spent the entire visit combing, braiding (which she is amazing at) and styling.

Jamela had a port throughout her treatment and couldn’t do one of her favorite things, swim. She had it removed when treatment was over, wanted to swim and had her 7th birthday coming up. So off she went with 6 of her family members to Wilderness Resort in the Dells for a surprise 7th birthday celebration. Before leaving on their trip, Peggy met them and CKMC gave Jamela the new XBox One X for her birthday. When opening it she exclaimed “This is the best present ever!”

Jamela and her family spent 3 nights in a beautiful 3 bedroom condo, provided with snacks, beverages, spending money and some special birthday gifts. And best of all, Jamela got to swim to her hearts content. Hope you had a Happy Birthday, Baby J!

CKMC sent Joshua on a “flight for fight” Kiss of Hope®. Joshua and 10 of his friends and family members were picked up by limousine and headed out to I-fly in Rosemont, Illinois. Each of them experienced the sensation of skydiving and brought home videos to prove it. The fun continued with a visit to the infamous Sugar Factory. Virgin “gummy bear” martinis, anyone? Joshua said, “it was the best!” The thrills they experienced will not soon be forgotten.

Kiss of Hope coordinator, Cinnamon Kettner, really enjoyed putting this very fun day, together for Joshua and his family. “I’m in love with this young man. As afraid as I am to skydive, I would have followed him anywhere!”

Lions! White Tigers! Adventures! Oh My!!! One month ago, on November 30, 2018, Dominic and his family set out for an animal adventure of a lifetime! Dominic, along with his mom, Grandma, Aunt, Uncle and three cousins traveled to Eureka Springs, Arkansas to the Turpentine Creek Wildlife Rescue Center where Dominic would fulfill his dream to see white tigers – live – before his very own eyes!!!
Dominic and his family were equipped with two rental vans – fully stocked with car organizers, road trip games, car snacks, and gas cards to get them through the 10 hour drive. They arrived at Turpentine Creek early Friday evening, greeted by the wonderful staff welcoming them to the Refuge. Accommodations were top notch! The families stay was in two suites set near the tiger habitat where Dominic could see the tigers right outside his window.

The highlight of the trip took place on Saturday. After breakfast, Dominic was in for a special surprise when he and his family were invited to the habitat of Kizman and Tanya – two year old white tigers that put on a private show for Dominic as they entered their habitat which was personalized with painted (organic egg-based paint) cardboard boxes & signs to welcome the family to the refuge. Kizman & Tanya were engaging in “cardboard therapy” which allows the visitors to view them in action. Additionally, Dominic was presented with a painting that was made by Tanya & Kizman – especially for Dominic.

Following the “Tanya & Kizman show”, the family was then treated to a private “behind the scenes” tour of Turpentine Creek with a Curator of the property. Adventures continued through the weekend as the family enjoyed local tourist offerings between sightseeing and dining in and around Eureka Springs ~ all courtesy of CKMC.

The family was so grateful to be able to spend this time together, watching Dominic’s dream become a reality! Shortly after returning, Dominic’s mom Meagan posted “For days, I have been trying to come up with words to describe our trip to Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge. For the first time in my life I am at a loss of words. Cancer Kiss My Cooley paired with the Refuge has literally put hope back in our lives. Between seeing the look of pure joy on everyone’s faces and hearing excitement in Dominic’s voice, it is honestly the best feeling. For the first time in a long time, Dominic isn’t talking about chemo, doctors appointments, ports and cancer. Instead he’s talking about how Goober the monkey gets the same vitamin as him, how Spyke the black leopard loves him and is one of his favorites, and the words sanctuary and habitat put a smile on his face. For the first time in close to 2 years, this experience let Dominic be a kid again. I can’t thank you enough for the lifetime of experiences you provided us!”

Meet Emma, our 71^st Kiss of Hope®. Emma is 13, and was referred to us by Journeycare of Barrington.  She has been battling brain cancer since 2014.  This Kiss started out with urgency around a Twenty-One pilots concert in Columbus OH.  Emma’s family was concerned with how to get there in one car comfortably, as Emma needs to recline a lot while in the car, and there were 5 people going. Mom and Dad were going with Emma’s best friend and her mom. All they wanted was some rental assistance.  So in swooped CKMC with a lot more than a rental, of course.😉  They already had tickets, so CKMC booked the group a few suites at the Westin, a big comfy SUV rental, lots of snacks for the road trip, gift cards for meals/gas, and of course Twenty One pilots merchandise for each girl. Also, Emma is a big Red Panda fan, so we found a lot of Red Panda items to keep her happy. I also got them tickets to the Columbus Zoo the day after the concert. Mom and Dad were overwhelmed, “The girls are so excited about the hotel! I thank you again for your generosity and kindness. We are overwhelmed with gratitude!”

The Kissing didn’t stop there. In keeping with the Red Panda theme, CKMC was able to provide an ultimate zookeeper experience for Emma and her family at the Oglebay Good Zoo in West Virginia. Mom and Dad yelled, “Happy Red Panda Day!” this morning from their 2 bedroom suite to wake up sweet little Emma. She was a zoo keeper for 3 hours and meet face to face with her favorite animal, the red panda. She interacted, help trained and fed the red panda and many other animals.  The next day, mom and dad had couples massages before enjoying the resort with Emma on paddle boats, playing mini golf, swimming and much more. April (Mom) texted Joe Kettner this morning and said, “Joe, you are the best. We are so excited for everything. This place is gorgeous. I cannot wait to share photos with you and Cinnamon. The three of us cannot thank you enough.” We saved the biggest surprise for last.  Later after zoo keeping, the head zookeeper presented Emma with a special painting. He had the Red pandas create a painting for Emma.

This Kiss of Hope® is presented by:

Riley is a tough young man who lives in the far NW suburbs of Chicago with his mom, dad and brother. As a typical 8 year old, Riley enjoys Spongebob, Legos, Hot-Wheels and aspires to be a hockey player someday. As a non-typical 8 year old, Riley has battled a brain tumor for over half of his life. Riley underwent surgery in June of 2016 to remove the tumor from the frontal lobe of his brain. Although the surgery was deemed successful, Riley still faces numerous challenges and continues treatments.

Riley would often see the commercial for the Great Wolf Lodge and would ask his mother if they could go someday. CKMC stepped in to send the entire family to the Wisconsin Dells for a 5 night “school’s out” stay. Greeted personally by the General Manager upon arrival, Riley and his family checked in to their suite to find gifts waiting for them that were graciously furnished by the resort. As you can see from the pictures, everyone had a great time playing, swimming and enjoying being a family.

In October 2012, Cancer Kiss My Cooley gave a Kiss of Hope® to 6 year old Dylan who was diagnosed with a Medulloblastoma in July of 2012.

Joe Kettner learned of Dylan when he was contacted by someone special he met back in 2009. They met just once, in day hospital at Children’s, while both of their sons were undergoing chemo treatments. She was compelled to reach out in October and make contact again to share Dylan’s story. She explained that she continued to follow the Kettner’s journey; even till this day with the foundation. So Joe reached out to the Full family. He spent some time with Dylan’s mom Laurie to understand how CKMC could help create a special memory for Dylan.

Dylan’s Kiss of Hope® started with a family limousine ride into Chicago. His entire family enjoyed a weekend stay in a suite at Mile North Hotel and two days of Navy Pier activities that included Pier Park Rides, Mini Golf, Dinner at Bubba Gump’s, and of course, the Big Ferris Wheel!

Joe shares, “Dylan’s mom told me he has wanted to ride the big Ferris wheel since before his diagnosis. We were so very happy to provide Dylan and his family with a wonderful weekend full of smiles. He even told mom that, “this was the greatest day ever! We know he’ll have so many more.”

To learn more about Dylan and his story you can visit his fan page on Facebook.

Meet our friend Jake. Jake is a very special boy who is a big fan of nature and animals. He ha his own Zoo-full of animals at home. Jake has a 4 year old little brother named Casey, and mom and dad Lauren who are right by his side, inspired over and over again by the outreach of support.

On December 12, 2014, 8 year old Jacob found out that he had a large inoperable brain stem tumor (Ganglioglioma). Jake’s connection to CKMC and the Kettner’s happened long before he was even born. Joe Kettner’s father, Jim Kettner is the Uncle to Jacob’s Grandmother, and he had the pleasure of walking her down the aisle on her wedding day many years ago. Yes, that means we are family. When we found out Jacob was diagnosed, Joe Kettner immediately referred his cousin for a Kiss of Hope®.

Because of the location of the tumor and the medications he is now on, Jake has had some unfortunate symptoms present themselves that have restricted his mobility, breathing, and vision. Jake’s mobility was so limited that the family and CKMC devised a plan to give him his mobility back – with the gift of a pool. In the matter of a few days, CKMC and the Mieszela family came together to fund and install a pool in their backyard, complete with heater and deck modifications. Joe Kettner knows first hand what a pool can mean to a child with limited mobility, “Our Carter Kettner received the gift of a pool, and the life in his body and extremities came back, we knew it… he felt like a kid again.”

Joe received this note from Mom, just after the pool was installed, “We wanted to send a quick ‘Thank You’ to you and the entire Cancer Kiss My Cooley organization. Your gift of this pool for our Jacob is beyond amazing. For him to be able to go right out our back door and get into the water and be able to feel free, to have no limitations on his little body, is going to be so good for him physically and mentally. After having a toxic reaction to the Vincristine, Jake has been unable to walk unassisted since March. This has really taken a toll on his emotional state, as he was just on a soccer team a month before his diagnosis. His world, and ours as a family, has been turned upside down, and if it wasn’t for our strong Christian faith, we don’t know where we’d be. We can’t wait to see you guys and give you a huge hug!”

Meet beautiful Brenna. This 17 year old’s Kiss of Hope® was led by Cinnamon Kettner. When Cinnamon met Brenna and her family, it was apparent she was in need of a girl’s-day-in. Brenna, her two sisters, and Mom were in for a pampered day fit for princesses. Her Kiss of Hope® was set for a summer day in June 2015.

We aimed high, and called in a favor for a red carpet experience. So, we called some friends at Chicago based TV show “Chicago Fire”, and they sent over a hair and makeup team to get the girls ready for their photo shoot. Brenna liked the color Red, so we showed up with a collection of dresses for her to try on and find that perfect fit. What would a red carpet event be without some glam? So, CKMC went to visit our friends at Jared in Algonquin, IL and they set up all of the girls with Pandora bracelets, matching necklaces, and we threw in a pair of Diamond earrings for Brenna. She looked beautiful!

After the shoot, the girls were treated to in-home mani-pedi’s and personal massages. They ended their day with an Italian dinner, and a few weeks later – Mom received all the pictures from the experience and a canvas photo with her girls to remember a very special day.

Please meet our 3 year old KOH, Octavio. He lives with his mother, father, and 5 year old sister, Amareli. He stole our hearts upon meeting him. Octavio loves birds. His face lights up whenever he sees the animals he loves.

For his Kiss of Hope® experience we decided to give his bedroom a makeover. The entire family had shared a room and one bed. Josefina and Mario Navar played a major role in helping complete this Kiss of Hope®. We rolled out the home makeover skills. The room was painted, we had canvases of Octavio’s favorite animals, new beds with all the bedding, books, baskets and a shopping spree to buy the kids some much needed clothing. Wait until you see these before and after pictures. We could not have done it without all of our supporters.

Thanks to the generosity of our Kiss It Gala Sponsor, Keefe, Campbell Biery & Associates, this Kiss of Hope® was made possible

Meet Mia. Mia is the sweetest 9 year old who has a twin sister (Dani) and a younger sister (Molly). Mia was diagnosed with medulloblastoma in 2016 when she was 8 and just recently got to ring the ‘End of Chemotherapy’ bell at Lurie’s. This little girl is a rock star and kicked cancer’s cooley all while going to school and continuing to be involved in sports and after school activities.

Mia and her sisters are very versatile – they love reading, drawing, playing sports, watching sports, going to museums and zoos and pretty much anything else a 9 year old would like to do. So where better to send them than to the largest retail and entertainment complex in North America. CKMC sent the Dooley’s on a trip where they could do everything they love – the Twin Cities in Minnesota.

The family of 5 went for a 3-day 4-night long weekend getaway to Minneapolis/St. Paul with The Mall of America as their main destination! They arrived on Thursday and their first stop, of course, was a shopping spree at The American Girl place. All three girls walked out of there with a new doll all decked out. On Friday, they spent all day at the Nickelodeon Universe amusement park inside the mall riding roller coasters and water rides, taking pictures with their favorite characters, and there were no lines… bonus. In between crazy rides, they were all able to enjoy a fun round of miniature golf at Moose Mountain Adventure Golf. It was sure to be a friendly competition as Mia loves to win. Saturday, the Dooley’s ventured over to Minneapolis to the Children’s Theatre Company for a showing of A Year with Frog and Toad – a theatrical rendition of the popular children’s book Frog and Toad are Friends. The Dooley’s got to view the play in VIP seats 6 rows from the stage. The girls loved it. After the play, the Dooley’s were treated to a VIP Experience at the Minnesota SeaLife Aquarium. In addition to priority admission, they got a behind-the-scenes guided tour of the aquarium and a sting ray feeding experience at the Ray Lagoon. The twins each got a souvenir guidebook to follow along with during their tour. To cap off their vacation, the Dooley’s spent a lovely day (Father’s Day) at the Minnesota Zoo. The girls love the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, so this was sure to be a fun day for them. The last stop for them was a trip to the Build-A-Bear workshop. And who doesn’t love a good customized stuffed teddy bear. We’re so proud of you, Mia. You have truly showed us the meaning of strength and perseverance. We hope you enjoyed your trip.

Meet Crisanto. CKMC met Crisanto just shy of his 8th birthday, so we knew an awesome birthday party was a must. With his love for Pokemon, it was a no-brainer for a Pokemon themed party with all the coolest decorations and even a custom cake thanks to our friends at Icing Smiles. With all his classmates, their parents and his teachers on the invite list, guests were treated to face paintings, took part in a magic show, danced and played games with a DJ and even met a Pokemon. But the biggest surprise for Crisanto? His best friend and family members came all the way from Venezuela to share this special day and help celebrate. Happy Birthday, Crisanto. We hope you enjoyed your party.

Meet William. William is a sweet and loving boy that typically likes to wear fancy threads, but not for this trip. William, his five brothers, mom, dad, and grandma packed up and headed to Great Wolf Lodge in Wisconsin Dells for his Kiss of Hope®. William and his brothers played Magic Quest throughout their stay and even had their own poolside gazebo to help celebrate his 8th birthday. Thank you to the staff at the Great Wolf that hosted a pizza party and filled the room with presents and surprises. The fun doesn’t end in the Dells. William’s wish for a trampoline back at home came true, as well. He can hardly wait to get on and wrestle with dad and his brothers. Happy Birthday, William. We hope you enjoyed your trip.

Araceli is a beautiful nine year old girl & big sister to 3 brothers. She was diagnosed with a brain tumor in June, 2016 and has endured rounds of radiation, 3 surgeries, and is currently on chemotherapy. She is in the fight of her life, but has an incredible support system in her large family. Araceli was referred to CKMC through their partnership with Lurie Children’s Hospital to receive a Kiss of Hope®.

Araceli is a huge Avengers fan, and was anticipating a big birthday where she would transition from 9 years old, to the ultimate “double digits” 10 years old on December 9th. Herein lie a perfect opportunity for Cancer Kiss My Cooley to host the ultimate Avengers Assemble 10th Birthday Party for our superhero, Araceli … and 120 of her closest family and friends.

Araceli turned 10 years old on December 9th, and her party took place the next evening on Saturday, December 10th in Evergreen Park. The stage was set at Jacob’s Well to host the celebration. All guests dressed up as their favorite superhero to enjoy this party to the fullest, and a good time was had by all. From feasting on Araceli’s favorite pizza – Home Run Inn, to capturing memories in the Super Hero photo booth and partaking in superhero games like “Pin the star on Captain America’s shield,” “Hulk Smash,” taking down the enemy via Piñata, or making their own Super Hero ID badges. The highlight of the celebration was the visit from Captain America and Black Widow, who played games with the children, conducted Super Hero training, posed for photos, and even sang happy birthday to Araceli. The best moment, however, was when they crowned Araceli a superhero. All the guests left the party with full bellies, full hearts, and a commemorative “Araceli’s Angels” t-shirt.

Araceli’s memory making experience didn’t end with her party. The fun will continue next month when she and her family will attend the Twenty One Pilots concert on January 28th at United Center. Araceli will get to enjoy the music of her favorite band, along with mom, dad, and 2 of her brothers. She will arrive at the concert with a gift card to go shopping for some Twenty One Pilots loot. Of course, the family can’t go hungry to the concert – they have gift cards to dine at Home Run Inn before the concert.

Araceli lives in Chicago with her parents, Rachael and Jimmy, and 3 younger brothers (baby Isaac was born 5 days after Araceli was diagnosed). She is a self-professed book worm and her favorite things in her world beyond her family and friends are the: “I Survived” book series, the Avengers and the band Twenty One Pilots. Cancer Kiss My Cooley is honored to have coordinated a Kiss of Hope® for Araceli and her family to make memories and special moments they can keep for a lifetime.

What’s the best part about the holiday season? Spending time with family and making memories, of course. That’s why we sent 9 year old Mason and his family to Washington for an entire week over the Thanksgiving holiday. One of Mason’s favorite things to do is go to the waterpark, so CKMC sent his cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents to enjoy a few days with Mason and family at Triple Play Resort. All 15 of them enjoyed the waterslides, laser tag, bumper cars, bowling and more while spending quality family time at the resort.

Mason and his family were able to spend the holiday in the best possible way, by making every minute matter together with their loved ones. That isn’t all for this sweet little Seattle Seahawks fan. Stay tuned for another surprise update for Mason and his family coming up in December.

Sweet baby Kale came to CKMC as a board member referral. Prior to being 6 months old he was diagnosed with a form of brain cancer called Grade 2 Astrocytoma.

Because he is such an amazing little fighter, he was deserving of a 1st birthday party fit for the strong superhero he is. Cancer Kiss My Cooley helped make it happen for Kale. A superhero birthday party wouldn’t be complete without a bounce house, live entertainment, a visit from Woody and Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story, and being surrounded by friends and family who love him so much. We hope all of your wishes came true, Kale.

Meet Alejandro. He’s sweet, shy, loves cars, loves animals, loves the beach, and loves to eat🙂 We knew we liked him for a reason, hehe. His little brother Eduardo is one of his BFF’s.

Alejandro’s Kiss of Hope® started out with an amazing trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. A stretch limo picked them up to take them to the airport. Goodbye Chicago and hello warm and sunny beaches of Mexico. Alejandro and his family stayed at the 5-star all inclusive resort, Now Amber. They started out… the trip with some much-needed relaxation on the beach and quenched their thirst with some awesome kiddy drinks w/ umbrellas in them. Aside from relaxation, CKMC threw in some fun excursions for the family. Alejandro loves animals, dolphins and birds are his favorites. So, we sent him for a nice swim with dolphins… awesome! He also had the opportunity to hold a macaw. He tells us that the interaction with his favorite animals was the highlight of the trip.

The fun doesn’t stop there. Alejandro and family went on to enjoy a cruise to a private cove. They were treated to some great food under the stars and learned about Ancient Mexican civilization through music and dance.

So, beaches… check. Animals… check. Now on to the cars!

We lucked out that the Chicago Auto Show was in town as we were putting together Alejandro’s Kiss of Hope®. We were able to set up a VIP viewing of the cars, which means we were on the floor before the auto show opened to the public. No lines and no wait to get in the cars. Now, most kids would be into seeing the fancy sports cars or trucks first. Alejandro is the sweetest and so down-to-Earth; the first thing he wanted to see was a Nissan SUV. Love it. He was amazed at all the cars he was seeing and he had to sit in all the different SUVs. His favorite was the Toyota 4 Runner. A trip to the Auto Show isn’t complete without taking a ride in a Jeep. That was the favorite experience of the day. We piled into a Jeep and got to go through an awesome course. The Jeep went up and down a flight of stairs…how cool. All that walking around made the boys hungry. So, they dined on one of their favorites – Connie’s Pizza…yum. We bought the boys some auto show swag to conclude the day. They were so excited and they requested that we come visit them soon.

Cars… check. Food… check. Great times and forever memories… check!

Please meet Madelynn. She comes from a large supportive family with four other siblings. Upon meeting everyone I quickly fell in love. She is a vibrant, outgoing, humorous young woman that has a tone of spirit and fight in her. She is very strong and has always been positive during her battle cracking jokes every chance she gets. She absolutely loves Ellen so what better of a way to focus her Kiss of Hope® by sending her and the entire family to California. We were lucky enough to be able to send her and three other members of her family to The Ellen Show. They spent the rest of their trip touring California and spending time at Universal Studios.

Who can say they’ve had private art lessons from Jim Davis, creator of Garfield? CKMC Kiss of Hope® kiddo, Abraham and his brother, Tom can. Knowing his love for Garfield and that Paws Inc. is just a short trip from Chicago (near Indianapolis), we knew what would make the perfect Kiss of Hope®. We sent Abraham and his family to meet Jim Davis, get a tour of Paws Inc. and a private art lesson from the man behind Garfield.

Abraham had a tough year. He was constantly in and out of the hospital. He was also unable to attend school for the better part of the year. In early May, Abraham was feeling good and ready to go back to school. As soon as we heard the amazing news, the plan was put into place, Abraham and his family would be heading to Paws Inc. The family fun weekend with Abraham, Tom, mom, dad, aunt, and uncle started with a stay in Indianapolis and visiting their Children’s Museum. The next day was Paws Inc. day. They toured the art studio, met the staff, and Tom and Abraham were able to sit down and draw, being led the way by Jim.

Abraham’s mom had this to say to sum up the day. “Our day with Jim Davis was everything our family had dreamed of experiencing. cancer kiss my cooley made Abraham’s wish of meeting Jim Davis come true. The staff at Paws Inc. welcomed us warmly and Jim Davis graciously and genuinely invited us into his world of laughter, family, and fun, the type of place were Abraham feels he was meant to be.” We could not have said it better ourselves. Thank you to Paws Inc. and Jim Davis for making this special family memory for Abraham and his family. Truly a memory making experience they will never forget.

Sweet little Lucca is a shy guy with an awesome smile, and he loves his minions, crafts and video games. His family was due for a vacation, so between chemo treatments, off they went to West Palm Beach, Florida. The most important aspect of this trip was family together time, making memories… CKMC style. They spent 6 nights at the Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Resort and the staff at the hotel went way above and beyond to make them comfortable and make this trip special for Lucca and his family.

Lucca turned 7 just before their trip, so the family was welcomed by a lineup of the hotel staff, a huge greeting card and a minions birthday cake. The family was treated to a unique Chef’s Table personal dining experience, complete with an actual minion to dine with them. Lucca was made honorary General Manager of the hotel for a day (complete with business card). The family also enjoyed a day out on a catamaran for a family fun adventure day on the water. We’d like to give a huge thank you to the Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island staff, especially our friend Frank. You went way above and beyond and made Lucca’s family trip so very special.

We received a text from Lucca’s mom over the weekend stating “This trip is amazing. Just what the doctor ordered for our family. The staff is perfection.” This is exactly what we love to hear, knowing our families get to create memories together. Mission accomplished.

Meet adorable 23 month old Karter and his identical twin brother Khristian. Karter was diagnosed with a brain tumor at 5 months old. What little boys don’t like trucks, so when Peggy went to visit the family for the first time she brought two big ones for the boys. They loved them and even gave hugs.

Next up was a limo trip to Disney on Ice where they had seats very close to the ice. Mom, Alyssa said “Had so much fun at Disney On Ice. Thank you so much Cancer Kiss My Cooley for sending our family out to have some much needed fun. The boys were terrified at first, but ended up loving it after a few minutes.” Later they enjoyed one of Karter’s favorite foods, pizza!

This family loves to spend quality time together, so what better than Brookfield Zoo and Shedd Aquarium memberships. CKCM also adopted a dolphin in Karter’s name. Maybe they will meet “Magic” next time they visit the zoo. CKMC wasn’t finished with Karter’s Kiss of Hope®, so it was off to Wilderness Resort in the Dells, complete with a care package of toys and books, where the family enjoyed a few days splashing around in the waterpark. We are thrilled that Karter and his family enjoyed their trip.

This little almost 2 years old  adorable sweetheart is Diego. He loves animals, Paw Patrol, Mickey Mouse, and most of all, Legos. A family trip to San Diego for mom, dad, Diego, and sister, Valentina, is just what the doctor ordered for this awesome family.

As they took off for their trip on Halloween, mom stated, “Off we go to San Diego, cancer can kiss our cooleys!” Their family together time began with a stop at the Lego Store to get ready for the real deal, LegoLand Family Resort. The kids had so much fun playing all day and absolutely loved LegoLand. Other highlights of their trip included a trip to the San Diego zoo, Old Town San Diego, and Laguna Beach. What an action packed and awesome trip for a very deserving little boy and family.

At the end of their trip we received the sweetest note from Diego’s mom, “We returned from Diego’s Kiss of Hope trip last night. It was awesome and truly memorable. It started off with a limo ride to the airport. During the trip we visited Legoland, Old Town, Laguna Beach, Downtown Disney, the San Diego Zoo and La Jolla Cove. Cancer Kiss My Cooley really went all out for Diego and the family. We spent Dia de los Muertos in Old Town San Diego and there we made a little dedication to CKMC’s angel, Carter Kettner.”

Meet little Allison. We met her through our friends at Journey Care. We found out that this frozen fan had a 5th birthday coming up, so we did what we do best, make memories. On August 8th, Allison and her family received a Kiss of Hope® party, Frozen style. Before the party, we arrived with all the party supplies and our gifts for the Frozen Princess. We showered her with all things Frozen, and saved the best for last. She closed her eyes and we surprised her with a Frozen themed ride on powered Jeep. The family enjoyed a catered dinner including their favorite, Hawaiian pizza. Allison also had some very special guests. There was a special visit by the Snow Queen herself, Elsa, along with her sister, Anna, and their friend, Olaf. Happy 5th Birthday, Allison!

Meet adorable Ava. She just celebrated her 2nd birthday and CKMC was there to help. Since she was diagnosed at age 1 with anaplastic astrocytoma, we wanted to make this day as special as possible for sweet baby Ava and her whole family. This little cutie had the fanciest party around, lace, ruffles, flowers, pink, and green were the theme.

We wanted to make sure she had the best food, decorations, cake, and entertainment, a 2 year old could possibly have. Over 70 guests came out to give precious Ava gifts and wish her well as she turned 2. The kids were entertained by Petey the Clown and he also made festive balloon animals and hats. Ava’s sisters, Lyla and Mila, thought he was the best. They had a blast.

One of our volunteer photographers, Anthony, was there to capture all of these special moments for Ava’s family. CKMC wanted to spoil Ava with her first American Girl Doll, complete with birthday outfit, hat and cupcake purse. We also bought her some new cozy pj’s and a bunch of clothes. We wouldn’t want our little fancy girl to be cold with the recent weather change.

Food was catered in by Fodrak’s in Libertyville before the guests dug in to Ava’s fabulous cake. CKMC also helped the family out with some bills, which is perfect timing before the upcoming holidays. Thank you to everyone who helped to make this sweet baby girl’s 2nd birthday special, especially Anthony and Pete. Happy 2nd Birthday, Ava.

CKMC granted a Kiss of Hope® in April 2014 to Daniel, a wonderful young man referred to us by our friends at Lurie Children’s Hospital. We were able to reach out to one of Daniel’s favorite celebrities, Robert Herjavec, and surprise him with an afternoon of fast “Shark Tank” talk and one fast car!

The Power of Daniel
– Written by Robert Herjavec
(Shark on ABC’s Shark Tank, Founder of Herjavec Group, Bestselling Author, Race Car Driver)

There are few things in my life that surprise me – this is despite running a $125m global cyber security business tracking world-wide hackers, being a Star on ABC’s “Shark Tank” and driving Ferraris at 200 miles per hour. In early April 2014, I had the opportunity to speak at the International Car Wash Show with my fellow Shark, Daymond John.

More importantly, I had the opportunity to meet someone who truly surprised me; he was Daniel Wang, a brave, optimistic 16-year-old boy who has survived and beaten brain cancer for the past 3 1/2 years. It was through the Chicago-based charitable organization Cancer Kiss My Cooley organization that Daniel entered my life.

It’s All About the Attitude

I spent a half hour in the Ferrari driving around Chicago with big smiles coming from Daniel at every turn. But it was the quiet moments that were the most special. Daniel shared with me his feeling and challenges in the ongoing therapy with the most optimistic attitude I’ve ever heard anyone express.

Just Ask – Everyone is Willing to Help

We wanted to go above Daniel’s wish to meet me. He met Daymond and I in the green room before our speech. Daniel asked every question he could think of and Daymond and I gladly answered them. This was just the beginning of Daniel’s special day. We called Nick Mancuso from Lake Forest Sports Cars Limited in Chicago to provide a Ferrari California (Daniel’s favorite car) for us to drive and a backpack of Ferrari goodies to take home. Tyler McQuarrie, my racing coach, donated a Go Pro to install on the windshield to record our adventure and the Rosebud restaurant in Little Italy in Chicago provided a beautiful lunch to greet Daniel and his family when he showed up in his new ride with his favorite Shark. What a thrilling moment for the Wang family!

Motivation Goes Both Ways

I’m in the professional motivation business at my company, in my speeches and through my two books. I try my best to instill hope and optimism to each of the Shark Tank entrepreneurs who lay out their hearts and souls on the show for us to determine their fate. But Daniel was different. He provided me with more motivation than I could ever rally.

CKMC gave a “Kiss of HOPE” to nine year old Rosie who was diagnosed with Hypothalmic/Chiasm Optic Glioma at the age of three. Rosie’s wish was to meet Buddy the Cake Boss. CKMC made that wish come true when Rosie, sister Bella and Mom Jo, were picked up by limo and jetted off to Jersey City, New Jersey.

After settling into their room at the Hyatt on The Hudson, they were picked up by the producers of the Cake Boss television show. They were given a VIP tour of both Carlo’s Bakeries. They met everyone from the show and were even taken in to meet Buddy in the middle of taping.

From there it was a short nap and they were off to Manhattan to explore. The next two days were spent swimming, visiting Liberty State Park and a visit to the 9/11 Memorial. On Sunday, they were taken by limo to Morristown, New Jersey to see Buddy’s Live Show and a meet-n-greet with Buddy!

Rosie was all smiles, and said “Cancer Kiss My Cooley, you ROCK!!! I had the best time ever!!…thank you for sending me to see the Cake Boss, babe!” JoAnne Colucci, Rosie’s mom said “I am so thankful to CKMC Foundation and all their generosity and love. What an amazing thing they are doing for these special kids who deserve to have memorable life moments together with their families. Their special surprise for Rosie was such a gift for not only her and her big sister, but for me as well. It came at a time that we really needed a little hope in our lives and it gave us a priceless gift of time well spent together. I will always cherish the memories we made in New Jersey and New York. Meeting everyone from Cake Boss was a thrill, and yummy too! Thank you CKMC for doing what you do!”

You can learn more about Rosie’s story by visiting her Facebook page.

In May 2012, Cancer Kiss My Cooley gave its first Kiss of Hope® to 16 year old Amber who was diagnosed with Glioblastoma multiforme last November. Michelle Domino, CKMC Director reached out to Amber’s mom after seeing a Facebook request for help to make Amber’s Prom night special.

We set up Amber and her friends with a special prom day, including manies and pedies, a pre-prom dinner for her and her 30 classmates, along with a limo filled with goodies for an evening of what we hope was filled with wonderful memories. We hope it gave Amber an evening to remember, as her time is now.

If you’d like to learn more about Amber, check out her Facebook page at Team Amber. Be sure to like her page and check out upcoming events to support Amber.

CKMC gave a Kiss of Hope® to Jakub in January 2014. This hilarious 9 year old has been battling a brain tumor for 6 years. Joe Kettner met Jakub’s mom through a past Kiss of Hope® recipient, Rosie Colucci. After meeting Jakub, it was easy to see that he was a big WWE fan. It also seemed that the timing was right to plan a family trip for Jakub and his family, as he was finishing up with another round of treatment. With that, CKMC put together a family trip to St. Louis to be VIP’s at a WWE Event. The best part was that Jakub and his brother had no idea where they were going.

Their weekend began with a hotel VIP suite check-in and some indoor swimming. Then Jakub and his brother opened up a special present from CKMC to reveal their big surprise. After seeing WWE smash dolls, they knew what was to come. At the event, Jakub and his family were treated like royalty with wonderful fan perks, including front row ringside seats, a superstar meet & greet, pictures with the WWE Championship belt, and much more.

Jakub’s Mom shared many thanks to CKMC for a weekend to remember, “Joe, thank you so much for making this happen. We had a great time. Jake says it was epic. John Cena even gave Jake his sweat band after his match.”

Meet Haley! Or perhaps if you’ve been to CKMC events you already have. Haley has been a volunteer for CKMC for quite some time, and now she is one of our Kiss of HOPE kids. She was diagnosed with an Anaplastic Oligodendroglioma in July 2013. After a resection, Haley finished her radiation, and she deserved a relaxing break before starting her many rounds of chemo.

Haley’s Kiss of Hope® started with a manicure/pedicure for both her and mom. Then Haley, along with her mom and cousin, were picked up by Town Car and brought to O’Hare. Haley wanted to visit her Grandma in Florida, so the three of them were set up with airfare to Fort Myers for an 8 day getaway. After spending a few days with Grandma, the trio boarded the Key West Express, a water taxi going from Fort Myers to Key West. Haley had a great time visiting friends and being treated to fun and restaurants including “the best salsa ever!”

CKMC director Michelle Domino said, “Haley has helped CKMC as an event volunteer and even volunteered events for CKMC’s own Carter Kettner. She is very special to us, so we wanted to give her and her family an experience that’s as wonderful as she is.”

You can learn more about Haley’s story by visiting her Facebook.

Meet our friend, Fernando! We learned that this young man was a basketball fan. So, we did what we do best – create something Fernando and his family would remember. With the help of the Chicago Bulls, CKMC setup a VIP experience for Fernando and his family. They enjoyed a limo ride to and from the United Center and were taken onto the court during pre-game warm-ups. Fernando received some Bulls swag and then watched the game in VIP style from the first few rows.

CKMC CFO, Meghan Bradley, was able to accompany and meet Fernando and his family during their experience. “Fernando is a total sweetheart! He gave me a big hug and kiss on the cheek.” After the fun weekend, CKMC helped mom out with some household bills. Big thanks to the Bulls for their support.

This awesome little one is Isabella. She is a Taylor Swift fanatic and she was surprised on an MRI day with a “treat” after her doctor appointment. Anyone who follows our CKMC families or has gone through this with a child knows that MRI or scan days can be very stressful, scary, and no child should have to endure this. Isabella’s night started by being picked up with her parents in a 16 person Lincoln Navigator stretch limo equipped with snacks and beverages–she’s never ridden in a limo, so we think this one was pretty impressive for her first time ride.

After riding to the concert in style with plenty of room and armed with a lot of concert spending money, into Chicago’s Soldier Field they went. They were provided with awesome seats and enjoyed every second together as a family listening to Isabella’s favorite artist. Their seats were amazing and Isabella could not believe she was able to go to see her idol in person.

Before the concert, Isabella’s mom told CKMC board member, Michelle, “Isabella is going to be the happiest little girl in the world.” And indeed she was.

Princess Isabella’s Kiss of Hope® experience did not stop there. As she was turning 7, CKMC had some more surprises for her, a family “staycation” at a nice, local hotel so as a family they could experience some relaxation and most of all swimming, Isabella’s favorite hobby (besides listening to Taylor Swift, of course). Their room was loaded up with snacks, toys, and refreshments and they were treated to mommy and daughter manicure/pedicures. This family time is just what the family of 4 needed together as summer comes to a close. We didn’t celebrate her birthday with just the Taylor Swift tickets, she’s now able to play games and watch movies on her new Microsoft Surface Pro, in pink of course, just what a princess needs. Her mom let us know that the look on her face as she opened her birthday gifts from CKMC was priceless.

We tried to set up a meeting between Isabella and T. Swift, and we will not stop trying! Hey Taylor – this adorable Princess wants to meet you!

Meet Aleks. This young thespian was referred to us by our friends at Luries. He is a triplet. Mom and Dad have their hands full, so we decided to give them a care free weekend in a theater rat’s paradise on Broadway. The family was flown to NYC for the weekend and enjoyed the sights and sounds of New York. Aleks just loves performing musicals, lighting, and sound production, so we thought up front and personal seats at Wicked were perfect for the family of five. After the show, Aleks met the cast of Wicked and got some autographs. The Wicked Witch was framed.

Meet Aaron. Aaron was in the hospital on his birthday in March and missed out on some fun with his family and friends. On Saturday, May 9, 2015 a Stretch Hummer limo picked up Aaron along with 17 of his friends and family. They were dropped off at Dave & Busters downtown Chicago for Aaron’s 15th birthday party. They enjoyed a chicken buffet, game tokens, and passes to play unlimited video games. Aaron is a huge fan of Kyrie Irving of the Cavaliers and the party wouldn’t be complete without a custom cake of Kyrie’s jersey.

At his party he received a fan package from the Cavaliers with shirts, a hat, even a Kyrie tshirt. CKMC also surprised him with 2 awesome tickets (right by the Cavs bench) to the following day’s Bulls/Cavs playoff game. A limo transport him and his uncle to the United Center for the game. The Chicago Bulls and Cavaliers invited Aaron to come to the game early and be on the floor during practice. He got to meet many players, including his favorite, Kyrie Irving, whom he also had his picture taken with. After the game Kyrie sent Aaron his shoes and even autographed them. When Peggy asked Aaron if they fit, Aaron replied “No? They’re a size 12!” A few weeks after the game, Aaron decided to give his older brother Kyrie’s shoes, as his brother was unable to attend the game.