For 2024, we’re proud to select the following three families for our Tell Your Story recipients

Iris Courtney:

At the end of April 2024, Kim and Sam Courtney received the news that every parent dreads: their 12-year-old daughter, Iris, had been diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer.

Iris’s journey began with what seemed like a common ailment, especially for a competitive cheerleader and a girl who loves to run – knee pain. However, further medical examinations, including MRIs, CT scans, a biopsy, additional X-rays, and bloodwork, revealed the reality of her diagnosis. Unfortunately, Iris has been sidelined on crutches and not been able to bear weight since shortly after her diagnosis.

Iris began her chemotherapy in mid-May, starting an intensive 30-week regimen which requires her to stay at Akron Children’s Hospital for 2 to 4 nights most weeks. Amidst these treatments, Iris will undergo a major reconstructive surgery to remove the tumor from her femur and repair the damage caused by the cancer. Despite the challenges, Iris and her family remain strong and determined. Despite her diagnosis, she and her family have maintained a positive attitude and are already looking to give back to the community. Iris has already begun selling bracelets to raise funds and awareness for the cause.

We are reaching out to request your support for the Courtney family during this difficult time. As an active family of five, the Courtneys are striving to maintain as much normalcy as possible. Your generosity could help cover medical expenses, travel costs, and provide much-needed relief for the family as they focus on Iris’s recovery. Thank you for considering the Courtney family for this meaningful support. The Courtneys are a family that are already finding ways to bless others while in the midst of their own battle.

Jaleia Jones:

Hi, my name is Billie Sue Norris and I would like to nominate a 12 year old little girl from Louisville, Jaleia Jones. Before I tell you about how special Jaleia is, I first what to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that each one of you do to make this organization a success. My late husband and our 3 children received our nomination almost 8 years ago. I remember well, how that night made all of us feel with everyone supporting us and embracing our battle. The help of your organization and the donation helped the kids and I through a rough time with hospital bills, and gas traveling back and forth to the Cleveland Clinic daily. Our hearts will always be grateful for all ROC support. With that being said, my husband Mike Norris and our 7 wonderful children hold a Golf Outing to raise money to help support other families that are going through the same up hill battle that we did a few years ago. We will continue to help support those families as long as we can in my late husband Chuck Adams’ memory.

My family and I wanted to nominate Jaleia Jones because we know her personally and is from our very own town. She attends school with our children, cheers with our daughter, and I have had the privilege of having her 2 younger siblings in my kindergarten classroom. We see first hand the family struggling mentally and financially and we know how any donation would help them. From a very young age Jaleia has overcome many hurdles. She is the oldest of 3 children, she has a sister Jaci (7), and a brother Jerzye (6) that all live in Louisville with their grandparents. Being older, Jaleia has taken on the roll as a parent and nurturer from a very young age. Unfortunately, Jaleia’s father passed away when she was only 8 years of age, and then her mom and siblings had to move from place to place. Then only 3 years ago, Jaleia and her siblings were placed into the custody of their grandparents. It was a tough transition for everyone after losing their father, and now their mother is also no longer in their lives.

In the Fall of 2023 during cheer season, Jaleia told her MawMaw that she had found a bump on her leg that really didn’t hurt, but was just odd. They continued to watch it closely and made a Doctor’s appointment a few weeks later. After a few tests, the doctor called immediately and told Jaleia’s grandma (Mrs. Mary Jane Heckman) to schedule an appointment at Akron Children’s Hospital, the tests were not good. The prognosis wasn’t good and Jaleia needed surgery immediately. Jaleia was scheduled for surgery on Aug. 28, 2023 to have the mass removed. Unfortunately, after the evaluation from the surgery, she had to go through a second surgery to remove the cancerous cells around the same area. Jaleia started chemotherapy immediately after the 2nd surgery and was finally diagnosed with Ewing’s Cancer. She had to undergo a minimum of 36 rounds of very aggressive chemo treatments. Due to her auto immune deficiency and overnight stays at the hospital for treatments, she was unable to attend school this past school year at the Louisville Middle School. She had to miss her entire 6th grade year, but was able to complete as much as possible online.

The Louisville community has stepped up and has supported Jaleia and her family the last year and continues to support them. Many wonderful people have gone out of their way to reach out, share well wishes, and send their love and support. As I mentioned earlier, my family knows the family well and we know they are struggling mentally, physically, and financially. I personally have gotten to know Mr. and Mrs. Heckman having Jaleia’s younger siblings in class and I see first hand how much stress this has placed on their shoulders too. Mr. and Mrs. Heckman are doing the best they can. They are also raising their own biological son (18 years old) along with the 3 younger children. MawMaw is away at the hospital for days at a time for overnight treatments, which leaves grandpa at home to take care of Jaci and Jerzye. I know neither of them are able to work much trying to take care of doctor appointments, and running the others around. It breaks my heart to see them working so hard to take care of their grandchildren. These 3 young children already experienced so much grieving and separation anxiety in their lives after losing dad and their mother, to now have to go through something as terrible as this.

Mr. and Mrs. Heckman have the biggest hearts, and are doing whatever is needed to make sure all of them are blessed with whatever they need. If Rockin’ Out Cancer could help with the financial burden at all, I know they would be forever grateful. Thank you for your time.

Mandy Wilson:

It is said best by your foundation, when illness strikes, it affects the entire family. And when I submit this nomination it is for the individual with the diagnosis but also for her family, just as she would have it. This nomination is for Mandy Wilson who is 40 years old. She is wife to Brian Wilson, and mother to two young wonderful (but red headed – so extra prayers there) boys, Cole, age 9 and Dax, age 3.

Mandy went to the hospital on Mother’s Day, May 12, 2024 with an intolerable headache. When testing was done at Salem Regional Medical Center, it was found that she had a 5.5cm mass on her right frontal lobe. She was immediately sent via ambulance to the Cleveland Clinic for further evaluation. Three days later on Wednesday, May 15th, the surgeon went in to remove the majority of the mass and it was sent for evaluation. Hopes were high and Mandy was just looking forward to “getting it out of there” and getting home to her boys. That Friday, Mandy was sent home with staples, several medications to prevent brain swelling and seizures, and the promise of a follow up call. The call never came and she joked that ‘no news was good news!’ and she’d just follow up on May 30th at her follow up visit that was already scheduled and this would all be put behind her. Chapter closed.

Unfortunately, on May 30th at that follow up appointment, Mandy received her diagnosis of Stage 4 Glioblastoma. This is a rare (especially in her age group) and extremely aggressive form of brain cancer.

On the day of her grim diagnosis she was at the ball field cheering on her oldest son. She then was so very quick to assure her husband, family and friends that it would all be okay and that she is going to be just fine. She was going to speak to the doctors, get the protocol and get to beating this thing. She did find out that the initial treatment is chemo and radiation every day for 6 weeks and a look into any clinical trials. This is set to begin June 19, 2024. But the reassurance to all around her is a testament to exactly who Mandy is. She is a fighter and the rock of her family. Never shook, always solid and selfless. In a vulnerable moment Mandy stated “I have always been on top of things and in control and right now the hardest thing is feeling very out of control of everything in my life.”

That is the biggest take away from this nomination. Mandy is a giver and not a taker. She truly has taken such great care of her family who she loves with everything she has and you cannot deny seeing it when they’re around. She is a best friend to her brother whom she stood next to at his wedding. She is a wonderful aunt to not only her “biological” niece and nephew but to all children. She is the one with patience and kindness and the goofy one teaching the kids the “old time games” but also maybe some of those cool hip ones she’s learned on Tik-Tok as well. She is loved by the students and faculty at United Local where she serves as “lunch lady” and also by the kids in our 4-H group where she volunteers as an advisor. She is witty and funny and has a contagious laugh and is a blessing to all who know her.

Cancer knows absolutely no boundaries, and no one expects the diagnosis. I ask with this nomination that you consider Mandy to help financially as it is going to be a very expensive road ahead but also to alleviate some of her worries and concerns so that she and her family can place much of their focus on hope, prayer, faith and resources to fight this thing with all that they have going forward. With this, perhaps she can have some feeling of control in an unfathomable situation.

The last thing I ask is for prayer – prayer for this family as the Lord has the future in His hands and we must reach to Him for guidance and strength in every situation.

Thank you for your time and most of all, your consideration.