From Summer’s mother, Lynne Dale:
Before we get to the subject of this blog, we have some exciting news! A large contribution from a donor just sent us soaring over our goal! We are so grateful! After the first of the year, when all the checks and online donations are counted, we will report the total for the 2025 Matching Gift Campaign*.
As this year draws to a close, we are starting something new: an occasional feature called “Where Are They Now?” These blogs will share stories about how things turned out for some of our Team Summer kids — GOOD things! — starting with Josiah. If you follow Team Summer, you’ve seen this picture of him on our website and in our email headers, sitting on Summer’s lap!
Josiah was 2½ years old when Summer made him the second-ever Team Summer kid. She gave him a LeapPad to keep his active mind busy during his treatments for neuroblastoma, and the two formed a special bond. In fact, one time when Summer checked into the hospital, everyone lost track of her. She was supposed to go to her room while I talked to the nurses — but she wasn’t there, and no one knew where she had gone. Finally, I got the idea to look in Josiah’s room. There Summer was — all curled up with him!
That was 14 years ago, and Josiah has been through so much since then. He beat the cancer, but the effects the chemotherapy had on his little body haunted him for years. He’s been in and out of the hospital dealing with kidney issues, and he eventually had to have one surgically removed. Middle school was tough because he had to cope with so many medical challenges — problems with his remaining kidney, a bowel obstruction, frequent headaches, and nausea. He had to be on various medications, which required repeated visits to the nurse’s office for shots. But worst of all, he was severely bullied by the other kids for being different. Anxiety and depression enveloped him.
Thankfully, everything changed when his family got him into a smaller high school — and there he thrived. This is Josiah today — all six-plus feet of him!
His grandmother, who raised him, said that his cancer battles made him determined to break through all sickness and struggle and reclaim his life. In high school, Josiah signed up for football, basketball, and track — and gave it his all. Last year, as a sophomore, he amazed everyone by winning the State of Georgia Championship for the high jump in track! He beat out all the seniors with this 6’6″ jump.
At a football game recently, Josiah’s track coach brought him something he will cherish forever — the championship ring for his winning high jump!
We are all so proud of our cancer warrior and wish him the very best as he continues to live his life to the fullest!
If you want to help other kids who — like Josiah — are traveling a difficult road, please use the link below.
Many, many thanks to those of you who have contributed already. You are heroes to these kids going through so much — and to us!
Much love,
Lynne Dale
President
Team Summer
*This is the remarkable group of Team Summer supporters whose generosity created our $20,000 Challenge Fund for the Matching Gift Campaign. I am grateful beyond words!
Gold Level Donors
Cathi and Chad Morriss
Individual Donors
Jennifer Barnes
Holly and George Batchelor
Elizabeth and Frank Blake
Tracy Carusi
Jan and Avery DeLong
Melissa Demetrops
Robert and Janet Dobson
Linton and Priscilla Hopkins
Scott Levere
Liza and Derrick McSwain
Jeri Moran and Shaun Rawls
Nancy Neufer
Jeff and Betsy Sherry
Corporate Donors
HawkPartners
Specialty Center for Periodontics and Dental Implants
Team Summer, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All contributions are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.
