Our 2026 Ambassador
Over the next 42 weeks, Vera endured chemotherapy while her parents navigated a new reality — hospital visits, scans, surgeries, and the emotional weight of watching their baby fight a battle no child should ever face. When a PET scan revealed another nodule, Vera bravely faced another surgery.
Then in August 2025, after nearly a year of treatment, end-of-treatment scans revealed heartbreaking news: the cancer had returned. A new mass had appeared on the same shoulder.
Once again, Vera faced surgery. This time her journey took the family to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where she received 23 fractions of proton beam radiation over five and a half weeks. Daily treatments were followed by a new chemotherapy plan that continued even after they returned home to Omaha.
Altogether, Vera endured another 24 weeks of chemotherapy after her relapse.
For Vera’s parents, the last 18 months were filled with unimaginable challenges — fear, exhaustion, uncertainty, and the constant fight to stay strong for their little girl.
Through it all, their faith sustained them. And they were not alone.
About vera
When Vera was just three months old, her parents noticed something small that would change their lives forever — a tiny lump on her right shoulder blade.
At first, it didn’t seem like much. They mentioned it to her pediatrician at her next appointment, expecting reassurance. Instead, the tests began. X-rays and ultrasounds couldn’t explain what doctors were seeing. The answers would require an MRI.
On August 21, 2024, Vera’s family received the news every parent fears. The lump was malignant. Even more devastating, the tumor was far larger beneath the surface than what could be seen from the outside.
Just a week later, at only five months old, Vera underwent surgery to remove the tumor along with part of her shoulder blade. Soon after, pathology results from the Mayo Clinic confirmed the diagnosis: Stage 3 rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive childhood cancer.
A month later, Vera began chemotherapy. Her journey had only just begun.
During Vera’s treatment, Metro Area Youth Foundation (MAYF) stepped in to help ease the financial strain that often comes with childhood cancer. With Vera in treatment, only Joel was able to work while Vera’s mom stayed home to care for her full-time.
The financial assistance provided by MAYF helped cover essential bills, allowing the family to focus on what mattered most — Vera’s care and healing.
Because of that support, Vera’s mom was able to spend precious time beside her daughter through surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation treatments, and recovery.
And those moments mattered.
On February 24, 2026, Vera received the news everyone had been hoping and praying for — clear scans and the end of chemotherapy.
Today, Vera is preparing to celebrate something truly special: her second birthday in March 2026.
After everything she has faced, her parents describe her simply:
“She is the best little girl and we are so blessed to be her parents.”
Vera’s journey reminds us why MAYF exists — to walk alongside families facing childhood cancer, helping relieve financial burdens so parents can focus on what matters most: their child’s fight, their healing, and the precious moments together along the way.
As our 2026 MAYF Ambassador, Vera represents courage, resilience, and hope for every family navigating the difficult road of childhood cancer.
And today, we celebrate her strength — and the bright future ahead.
