Parker James Rowland is your average six-year-old boy. Sweet, kind, loves swimming, playing tee ball, spending time with his family, and is overwhelmingly excited to start kindergarten in the fall.

On June 16th, 2025, Parker awoke to horrible abdominal pain. He was inconsolable, and his parents rushed him to the nearest ER. After a multitude of tests and hours of waiting, the CT scan showed a mass located in his pelvis compressing his ureter and kidney. He was then transferred by ambulance to Akron Children’s Hospital, where he was admitted to the oncology unit. After even more tests, scans, and procedures were performed, Parker was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancer that is seen mainly in children.

As most can imagine, this is a parent’s worst nightmare. In a few days, the Rowland family’s life has been turned upside down. Parker has a long road ahead of him; he will undergo chemotherapy, radiation, and eventual surgery.

We are asking for support for this sweet family, so all of their time and effort can go to supporting their son as he fights (and wins) this battle with cancer. This is an unimaginable financial burden. Although their lives have drastically changed, the bills will still come, and any support is greatly appreciated.

Let’s come together as a community, as parents, and as people and hold them up while they navigate this terrible time. It takes a village to get through an illness such as this, and if you have the means to be a part of it, it would be so appreciated.