Wyatt Schmaltz was diagnosed with Stage IV Neuroblastoma at the young age of 3 years old. This is a type of rare cancer that develops in part of the peripheral nervous system called the sympathetic nervous system. It is diagnosed in roughly 700 children in the United States each year. Neuroblastoma develops in very early forms of the nerve cells that are most often found in a developing baby, which explains why children as young as newborns can develop this cancer. In fact, it is the cancer most often found in infants. It can spread to many parts of the body, including the bones. Stage IV cancer means that the cancer has spread to distant parts of the body such as distant lymph nodes, bones, liver, skin, bone marrow or other organs. Stage IV also refers to a cancer that is very high risk. Most common symptoms of this cancer are pain in the abdomen or bones, fever, fatigue, loss of appetite and weight loss. The 5-year survival rate of Stage IV NB is 50%.

Wyatt began complaining of pain in his legs. His right leg seemed to be the one giving him the most discomfort. I first thought it was due to him playing rough with his 2 brothers so I waited a few days to see if the pain would decrease or go away. The pain did not subside and only worsened so I immediately took him to see a doctor. It took 3 doctor's visits to get his pediatrician to decide to do lab work and a bone scan. When the labs came back, they appeared off so his pediatrician ordered an MRI. On April 4th, 2014, we were sent to Riley Hospital for Children thinking he had leukemia but still unsure. On April 14th, 2014, we were told that our son had Stage IV Neuroblastoma. Hearing the word cancer was heart breaking but to hear Stage IV was completely devastating. To say we were terrified is an understatement.

Chemotherapy was so hard on Wyatt and it was so difficult watching him struggle and being in such pain. He went through a minimum of 80 rounds of chemotherapy. He endured a stem cell transplant and was placed on a trial vaccine. The medications that they were giving our son were the same medications that were meant for adults. These medicines take so much out of children and can cause them to become much sicker with terrible side effects. Sadly, there are no other options for children. Multiple immunotherapies were tried but they all caused anaphylactic reactions. I was the sole caregiver to our son while his father had to work and take care of our other children. I stayed at the hospital for every treatment and missed out on so much at home with my family. Wyatt was so brave and despite everything he was going through, he fought so hard. The majority of my strength I received from him.

Each year in the United States there are an estimated 15,780 children between the ages of birth and 19 years of age who are diagnosed with cancer. Roughly 1 in 285 children in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer before their 20th birthday. Globally there are more than 300,000 children diagnosed with cancer each year. Every 3 minutes, somewhere in the world a family hears the catastrophic words that their child has been diagnosed with cancer. Over the past 40 years, the number of children diagnosed with cancer has increased by approximately 35%. Although survival rates for many types of childhood cancer have improved, far too many children will lose their lives too soon. Cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children, resulting in the death of approximately 1,800 children each year.

After 3 remissions, the 4th relapse was far too much for Wyatt’s body to handle. He fought for 6 long years but sadly on July 24th, 2020, he passed away at only 9 years old. Wyatt and I missed out on so many holidays and birthdays due to hospital visits that were sometimes weeks or months at a time. So many things we can never get back, including our precious son. Our other children will never have their brother back. We miss him so much and our family will never be the same. Cancer changed our lives forever. My husband and I are so determined to raise all the awareness we can for childhood cancer. There has to be some kind of change in order for these children to have a chance at a normal life. Too many parents are having to bury their children. Siblings are left confused which often results in severe anxiety or depression. This is one reason it is so crucial to see the 4% federal funding rise to 8%.

The federal government is allocating a baffling 4% for federal funding for childhood cancer research. This is not enough funding to make the changes that are desperately needed. By signing this petition, you will help facilitate lobbying and the advance of a healthcare policy that will designate a higher percentage of resources for childhood cancer research. With extra funding there will be a better chance at finding a vaccine for children or possibly finding a cure and ending childhood cancer. We need 12 million signatures in order to advance to the next step. Please sign and share this petition and stand with us so that these children can be heard.

HUNTINGTON, INDIANA