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Meet the Families
Empower
Growth
Our raiseRED families from Norton Children's Cancer Institute are at the heart of raiseRED's mission. By fostering lifelong connections between our families and UofL students, building a strong community, and providing support year-round, we ensure our families remain the center of all we do.
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​All Because Kids Can't Wait.
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Family Spotlights
Drew Esposito
On Christmas Eve Drew and his family were sent to an MRI for his consistent headaches and dizziness. That day the medulloblastoma tumor was found. They were sent immediately to Nortons for brain surgery the following day (Christmas morning). He went through three rounds of induction chemo followed by two rounds of bone marrow transplant. Drew was inpatient for about nine months and still had eighteen months of treatment after that. They have been a part of raiseRED for a few years, and Drew's favorite part is coming to the marathon! Drew’s family has started an organization called “Super Drew” that raises money for pediatric cancer patients and their families so that everyone can find their own superpower. He loves sports,competition, and animals. His two dogs' names are Derby and Daisy.
Isaiah White
After two weeks of intermittent fevers with no explanation. Isaiah’s family went to Norton Children’s ED and they did a blood test to find his white blood counts were over 100k and he hardly had any platelets. A bone marrow biopsy the next morning confirmed it was Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Isaiah completed two years of chemo at Norton but then relapsed in October 2023. After a bone marrow transplant in February 2024 he is back in remission. Isaiah has been a part of raiseRED for four years. He loves going to support our organization at UofL football games and the kid prom we did a couple years ago. He is interested in becoming a chef. Outside of cooking he loves gaming, sports, playing Roblox, and minecraft.
Minnie Johnson
Minnie was diagnosed with Acute Lymhoblastic Leukemia. She was admitted to the hospital for any eye infection which had gotten out of control because her immune system was so weak. Her treatment will be finished in January of 2026! She is very excited to go to a trampoline park to celebrate and jump because she hasn’t been able to with her port. Last year was her first year with raiseRED. She absolutely loved the spotlight, ice cream, bouncies, and people she got to be with. They were at Marathon until 1 am last year! She is a resilient little girl with a flight of a lion and is always smiling. She takes a short time to talk to people but once she does she doesn’t stop talking! She loves to play mom and be with all of her sisters.
Anna-Maria Beck
Anna-Maria Beck has been involved with RaiseRED since the first official event in 2013. Because of the fact that she has a slow growing tumor, her symptoms were very mild at first. She just had light stomach aches here and there but appeared to be completely fine. Being that she was just in second grade at the time, and appeared to be completely fine otherwise, her mom didn’t think anything of it. However on February 27, 2007 she went to school in the morning like normal, but then got sick and threw up during circle time in her second grade classroom. Her mom is an emergency room doctor so she came to pick her up and took me into the hospital to get looked at. It was then and there that they discovered that she had brain swelling and an optic glioma brain tumor. Since her diagnosis, she has had twelve brain surgeries, nine rounds of chemotherapy, and two months of proton beam radiation. However, she is happy to announce that she have been off treatment and in remission for over six years! Her favorite part of RaiseRED is the roar of the crowd that you hear when you go on stage to share your story. She dreams about that roar all year long. Back when she was getting treatments, had to have a tough procedure, etc. That roar of support from all the students at RaiseRED is what helped her get through some of her toughest of treatments.
Louis McGill
Louis was diagnosed with ALL after a three week hospital stay. He was diagnosed in January of 2025 so he is still in active treatment for right now. He was born with the gift of Down Syndrome which adds to the strength he exhibits throughout this treatment. They are used to advocating for his health but this diagnosis put us on a whole other level. Louis is a very positive, strong kid throughout everything. This is Louis’ first year with raiseRED and we cannot wait to share the joy of this organization with his family. Louis loves baseball, golf, animals, anything outside, and music. He loves watching YouTube and Disney!
Taylor O'Brien
Taylor was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma at 13 months old. She went through several rounds of chemo and then the tumor was resected. She has been cancer free ever since. Because of what she went through she wants to be a peds nurse when she grows up! Taylor and her family have been part of the raiseRED family since the very first year. They love the positive connection and relationships that have come from this program. This year they have been paired up with a Cardinal Crew Mentor and are looking forward to some fun and dancing! She loves the color blue and to dance! They have been a huge part of raiseRED from the very beginning, Taylor and family, we love you.
