PHOENIX — It takes a whole community of people working together to save lives. That’s why, every year, KTAR News 92.3 FM and its sister station, Arizona Sports 98.7, partner with Phoenix Children’s to raise money for children in need.
Stories of Hope, presented by Mattamy Homes, will air at various times throughout the week during the 17th annual Phoenix Children’s Give-A-Thon, presented by Hyundai and Yrefy.
Donations like yours fuel groundbreaking research, innovative clinical programs, advanced medical technology and compassionate, family-centered services that ensure every child receives world-class care, regardless of their age or condition.
Meet the inspiring patients from this year’s Phoenix Children’s Give-A-Thon. Each patient’s story, sponsored by Mattamy Homes, serves as a powerful testament to the exceptional care they received.
Abel, 15
Last year, longtime football player Abel began experiencing severe knee pain. At just 14 years old, he was diagnosed with bone cancer. He underwent multiple surgeries and lost feeling in his legs for a time.
While staying at Phoenix Children’s, Abel turned to music — playing guitar and piano — saying it was all he had left after having to give up football. Today, he is cancer-free.
Adina, 16
A genetic heart disease called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy runs in Adina’s family, so she and her little sister were genetically tested since birth. She learned her heart was beginning to fail during a routine test.
Eventually, Adina received a heart transplant, although she doesn’t remember much of her hospital stay. However, she said visits from therapy dogs helped make her time easier. She hopes to become a cardiac surgeon to help others with heart problems.
Andrea, 14
Although Andrea received a heart transplant sooner than her older sister, Adina, she suffered from further medical issues. She developed an enlarged neck lymph node. While it was noncancerous, it required weeks of chemotherapy.
The experience took a toll on her mentally, but she’s now doing better thanks to philanthropically funded services like art and animal-assisted therapy.
Axel, died at 2
When Axel was 2, he was diagnosed with a rare cancer that developed on his adrenal gland. He received five rounds of chemotherapy, and had his tumor removed, but he developed fluid buildup around his heart and passed away at Phoenix Children’s.
His parents said the hospital was his home away from home and said he would count down the minutes before the Child Life playroom opened. They started the Axel Crew Foundation to honor his memory.
Cassidy, 4
Before Cassidy was born, doctors found she had broken her thigh bone, which led to a diagnosis of brittle bone disease. After birth, she spent 63 days in the NICU and broke both thigh bones from kicking.
Dr. Maegen Wallace, a pediatric bone specialist, performed surgery to insert rods and strengthen her legs. Cassidy still receives care at Phoenix Children’s.
Makayla, 17
In late 2020, Makayla began feeling unusually tired, irritable and sick, losing over 10 pounds in two months. During multiple urgent care visits, her symptoms were dismissed as stemming from flu or stomach bugs.
Further testing at a primary care doctor revealed she was in diabetic ketoacidosis, which could lead to death if untreated. She said she owes everything to Phoenix Children’s for teaching her how to manage her Type 1 diabetes and administer her own insulin shots.
Marcus, 11
An eye doctor diagnosed Marcus with keratoconus, a rare genetic eye condition that causes the corneas become thin and bulge outward. He learned he had the progressive disease, which will affect him for the rest of his life, after he struggled to read the whiteboard at school.
Last year he had surgery to prevent additional damage, and while he might require more surgery in the future, he is doing better now. His parents said Phoenix Children’s was a great help — especially its various donor-funded programs, which helped him enjoy his life while recovering.
Stella, 13
In 2020, Stella and her family learned she had a tumor on her brain stem, which required surgery that left her unable to talk or move the left side of her body. During this difficult time, a therapy dog jumped onto her lap, and she suddenly started speaking to the dog.
The miraculous moment was only made possible due to the hospital’s animal-assisted therapy program, which is funded by donations like yours. Four years later, Stella has been through every kind of therapy to relearn how to walk and talk. She and her family are forever grateful to the hospital staff and to donors for helping her recover.
Amanda “Mandy”, 19
A car crashed into Amanda when she was 11 and walking home from school. The collision left her with a traumatic brain injury, internal damage and multiple fractures. She spent 91 days at Phoenix Children’s receiving lifesaving care such as a craniotomy and intensive rehabilitations.
Years later, she still has scars, learns at a slower pace, goes through bouts of depression and sometimes zones out, but she and her family credit Phoenix Children’s for going above and beyond to help her improve as much as possible. She’s currently pursuing a creative writing degree from Glendale Community College.
How you can donate during the Phoenix Children’s Give-A-Thon
These stories of hope were brought to you by Mattamy Homes.
The 17th annual Give-A-Thon is presented by Your Valley Hyundai Dealers and Yrefy. Sister radio stations KTAR News (between 5 a.m. and 7 p.m.) and Arizona Sports (between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.) are airing the event daily through Friday, dedicated to Phoenix Children’s and its services.
Anybody who wants to make a donation can do so by calling the phone bank at 602-933-4567, texting “GIVE” to 620620 or visiting the Give-A-Thon website.
The largest radio hospital fundraiser in the country brought in a record $2.36 million in donations last year, pushing the total raised since 2009 to more than $20 million.
Please spread the word of this lifesaving fundraising effort on social media.
Connect with Phoenix Children’s Foundation on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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We want to hear from you.
Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.
