For River’s Life and Joy
Fighting cancer with courage, creepy games, and salamanders.
River is a vibrant, funny, tough little boy fighting for his life.
He was diagnosed with high-risk neuroblastoma on March 4th, 2024, a rare and aggressive childhood cancer that only affects kids under five. By the time doctors found it, it had spread to his adrenal glands, bones, and organs. One of his adrenal glands was completely engulfed. Surgery removed 98.8% of the cancer, but live cells remain.
River has endured 1.5 years of harsh treatments, invasive procedures, and countless hospital stays — all after being misdiagnosed for six months. During that time, his mother, Raven, sought answers, but pediatricians missed the signs. She was told nothing was seriously wrong, while invasive and unnecessary treatments were prescribed. River experienced daily excruciating pain and couldn’t walk. Raven had to carry her three-year-old son to his bed regularly.
Finally, River began to receive the care he needed. From the beginning, River has shown incredible strength. Even before anyone knew he was sick, he refused to admit he was in pain, not because he wasn't hurting, but because he didn’t want the attention. That’s who River is, fiercely independent, quietly resilient.
River has endured the following:
- 5 months of chemo
- 4 months of bone marrow and stem cell transplants in Seattle while living at the Ronald McDonald House
- A brief 2-month break
- 14 treatments of radiation in a row with just weekends off
- A 1.5-month break
- Immune therapy 5 days straight with 3 weeks off over 5 months
- MRIs, CAT scans, PET scans, and MIBG scans to find the remaining cancer
- Double Hickman IV and feeding tube removed July 11th
River was diagnosed later than most kids and has outlived the life expectancy for this type of cancer.
River is finally starting to feel like himself again. The double Hickman IVs and NG feeding tubes are out for the summer, and his energy is back. He’s a new version of the wild, bright boy Raven always knew, and she wants to give him the childhood he needs before treatments resume.
River needs joy.
He loves water parks, camping trips, and salamander hunts. He needs and loves to chase shiny bugs and laugh at weird jokes. He loves dark humor, Five Nights at Freddy’s, Rainbow Friends, and MrBeast. He needs time to just be a kid before treatment begins again.
However, cancer has changed him forever. He may lose his hearing. He’ll never have biological children. He has scars and radiation tattoos. He will never be the same.
And Raven, his anchor, has lost too; her career, her home, her place in the community. She doesn’t sleep. Once they leave the hospital, Raven is on her own to provide care. No nurses are there to clean feeding tubes and give comfort in the middle of the night. No one is there to give Raven a hug and tell her she’s doing so great. She is completely wrapped up in helping River live and thrive, yet she is struggling to pay bills, put food on the table, and keep a roof over their heads.
Money will support Raven to pay off $7500 of unpaid medical bills and stop stressing about the utilities she is constantly behind on. It will subsidize River’s Social Security payment, which doesn’t even cover the rent.
Raven is holding onto hope that River will grow up, thrive, and never stop laughing at the creepy, weird, beautiful world he loves. Please share what you can and repost.
Organizer and beneficiary
Baby Ravenfire
Beneficiary