Whyatt's Story

June 4, 2019, marks the day that forever changed our lives.

Whyatt Yarnell was only 4 years old when he was diagnosed with brain cancer. The next 3 years Whyatt fought with a never-ending spirit and grace that were nothing short of awe inspiring.

So, who was Whyatt James Michael Yarnell?

He was a child who bravely fought brain cancer for 1067 days, never giving up and he fought hard all the way to the end. While in the hospital, Whyatt would hear other children crying, and would immediately hang his head and say, “Aww”. When asked what was wrong, Whyatt would respond with “I feel bad for them, I wish I could help them”.

That was Whyatt, in a nutshell. The child who could easily make you forget that he had a terminal illness. A child who rarely ever complained, even when experiencing the worst pain and enduring excruciating treatments. A remarkable individual who put other’s feelings and concerns far above his own. That is not to say that he did not want everyone to fuss over him, because he LOVED the attention. He simply wanted love, joy, and happiness.

Nothing was more important to Whyatt than spending time with his family. Every time he had to stay in the hospital, the only thing that kept him going was counting the days until he could be with family. It never mattered to him what we were doing, whether it be spending countless hours playing games, going to the park, or simply watching a movie, the only thing that mattered to him was that we were together.

Whyatt’s battle ended on May 6, 2022.

He laid down his mantle and was finally able to rest after a very long and hard-fought war. Whyatt's fight ended but ours continues. That is why we are here today. We have picked up where Whyatt left off and continue to forge forward for all the other children who are fighting Pediatric Cancer, helping others get their wishes and making the lives of children just a little bit brighter. To forget about the hospitals, needles, medicine, chemo, treatments, and cancer.

Our goal is to spread the dream that Whyatt had while he fought his own battle: To help those during their struggles, and for the families to be able to spend time with each other. To share in the love, joy, and happiness.