All photography provided by Jared Chambers

Sophia’s Buddies Foundation was founded by Sophia’s family as a way to honor her memory.

Sophia’s Journey

Sophia was a bright little girl that loved to learn, swim, play with her cousins, the color pink and cuddling with her parents. After a month of misdiagnosis, Sophia was diagnosed with stage 4 Neuroblastoma at the age of two. She fought valiantly for 2 years with receiving 6 rounds of chemotherapy, tumor resection, high dose chemotherapy, stem cell transplant, 20 days of radiation, and 6 cycles of immunotherapy. After receiving all of this treatment, she was declared to have no evidence of disease, NED. Her parent’s decided to keep her on oral medication for an additional 6 months to help increase her likelihood for survival but she eventually had to go off the medication. Soon after discontinuing the oral medication Sophia relapsed. Four short months after she relapsed, though continuing to fight through current treatments, Sophia’s body could no longer fight. She passed at the age of 4 1/2.

Through Sophia’s journey with childhood cancer she had her two buddies, Nemo and Blanket, to help her have comfort. She received a little stuffed Nemo from her uncle after her first round of chemo. Nemo received every treatment, scan, poke, and cleaning that Sophia received. Her parent’s and nurses would demonstrate on Nemo before doing the treatment on Sophia. Her blanket, a heavy brown baby blanket, was her favorite blanket from the age of 3 months. She would rub one particular corner to sooth herself.

Sophia’s Buddies Foundation is named after this valiant little warrior and her two best buddies that brought her so much comfort during the most difficult of times.

What We've Achieved and our Goals For 2019