Tiny But Mighty!

Meet Noah, a brave twenty-month-old who was diagnosed with B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia last September. Though shy at first, the longer you spend with Noah, the more his sweet demeanor shines through.  Despite his young age, he has shown remarkable courage as he faces his cancer diagnosis. The road to recovery for B-Cell ALL can take up to three years, but Noah and his family continue to face each step with strength and resilience.

On a beautiful, sunny day, we had the joy of meeting Noah’s family to spend some time outdoors making new memories and taking some photos. As we walked to the perfect spot, his mom shared how much they cherish being outside whenever possible. With Noah being immunocompromised, they have to be mindful of where they go. Gizdich Ranch was the perfect place to play.

"He is strong…even when he does chemo and the doses

go up and up.” - Noah’s Mom

Currently, Noah is nonverbal and unable to say exactly what he wants to do, how he feels, or where he wants to go. His inability to talk makes their cancer journey that much more difficult. Noah can’t tell his mom what hurts or what doesn’t feel right, which can be incredibly heartbreaking for any parent. His family has to understand his body language and facial expressions to understand what he might be feeling. 

Despite these challenges, Noah has his own ways of expressing himself in ways his family understands. We noticed this when we were at Gizdich Ranch. Edith, Noah's Family Support Specialist, quickly learned how to "hear" him as he pointed his way to the things he wanted to see and do. As she watched her sons, Noah's mom found comfort in knowing her kids were safe and happy playing with Edith while she was busy. This was a reflection of the trust they had built in their relationship. 

Navigating a cancer diagnosis is challenging enough; caring for a child who cannot explain what they are feeling can make it even more difficult. At Jacob’s Heart, we aim to support each family's unique journey. For example, our quarterly Art From The Heart program allows children to use art to express themselves instead of speaking. Being in a community like Jacob’s Heart during the unexpected challenges pediatric cancer can bring helps make the journey a little easier for families.

Noah and his family joined Jacob’s Heart at the end of September 2024, shortly after he was diagnosed. Since then, we have been able to support them with groceries, direct financial assistance, and especially gas cards. Since starting a new round of treatment, Noah’s family travels to Stanford twice a week, which quickly adds up. By providing gas cards, we help ease the financial burden and ensure they can focus on what matters most, his care.

“The gas cards have been great, we have been using those.

It is a far trip, especially now that we are going twice a

week. The gas cards have helped us out a lot.” - Noah’s Mom.

Noah and his brother Max love to play and spend time together. Their favorite thing to do together as a family is to go on walks, ensuring Noah still gets to go out and about while staying safe. Despite being diagnosed at just 14 months old, Noah is a typical kiddo who loves school buses, trucks, and dogs. He is a reminder that even when children face unimaginable challenges, they are still kids.



At Jacob's Heart, we strive to be a constant source of support to families like Noah's. We constantly check in, offer a helping hand, and ensure they never feel alone. No one should have to walk this journey alone, and we are grateful to support them every step of the way. As Noah continues to undergo intensive treatment to fight B-cell ALL, we will remain by his family’s side, offering support every step of the way.

Thank you for helping to support families like Noah's as they face pediatric cancer.

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