In 2002, I met a six year old boy named Dylan. Every time I saw him, he was wearing a bright red and white Santa hat. The air conditioning in the activity center was too cold for his bald head and he wanted to stay warm - in his own unique way, of course!  

One day, as we painted, he told me all about what he liked and didn’t like to do for fun. Once his mom stepped out of the a room, he told me he was getting tired. He was worried about what would happen to his mom when he left. He wasn’t talking about leaving the hospital. He knew he didn’t have much time left with her and his family. 

As a high school student, I didn’t quite know what to say- I was a volunteer! So I told him that she would be sad but she would be okay. She would always love him - that’s what moms do. He nodded, smiled a small, sweet smile, and just kept painting. 

Sadly, that was the last time I painted with Dylan. I never saw him again- although his memory is very much alive. Decades later, I now work at MD Anderson’s Children’s Cancer Hospital. When I walk by our Pedi Dome, I think about Dylan and his Santa hat. He would have turned 27 this year.

I’m volunteering in honor of Dylan and in honor of all of our patients. Join me in raising awareness and funds for pediatric cancer research and support care.

Every three minutes, a child is diagnosed with cancer. I joined Swim Across America and my colleagues here at MDACCC because I believe in their mission and want to support their efforts in giving families and kids like Dylan more hope.

If you are able, please support me by making a donation to help me reach my fundraising goal. Together, we can #MakeWavesToFightCancer. Let’s do it for Dylan. ❤