Heavenly Birthday & Gift Announcements

Today our hero would be seventeen years old. The pain of losing him will be with us forever. And as the years since his passing continue to grow, so only does our passion for fulfilling the mission we have embraced to honor his life.

We hope we’ve made this year count for him.

In May, we announced a gift of more than $30,000 to Cleveland Clinic Children's to outfit all of the patient rooms in the inpatient hematology/unit with new custom Xbox systems loaded with games. The systems have arrived and are being installed. We can’t wait to show them to you!

Two months later, our pal Hopper, a highly trained service facility dog, arrived at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital to provide emotional support, therapy and love to the patients and families of the inpatient cancer unit. We’re hearing countless stories about the tremendous impact he’s had helping the children cope with their hospitalizations.

And, now, for the mid-November news: For the fourth year in a row, The Carter Nedley Foundation is making a gift to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northeast Ohio to sponsor a room at its Cleveland house!

Families staying at a Ronald McDonald House experience a sense of comfort, normalcy, camaraderie and compassion that helps them remain strong for their children. The spacious private rooms, beautiful common areas, daily meals and other amenities ease their stress and financial burdens, allowing them to focus on the care of their children.

This partnership fulfills a dream of ours since we founded The Carter Nedley Foundation. During Carter’s treatments in Cincinnati and Columbus our family required extended stays in the local Ronald McDonald Houses. They very quickly became warm and welcoming homes away from home. In Columbus we were able to secure a temporary discharge from the hospital so we could spend what would be his last Christmas together as a family in our room. The wonderful memories we made with him there will be treasured by us forever.

Thanks to all our friends at RMHCNEO – Craig Wilson, Aristea Tzouloufis, Samantha Harsh, Shana Wallenstein, the list goes on – for their continued support and friendship.

And, as always, our most heartfelt gratitude goes to our dedicated and passionate supporters, who for more than fourteen years now have made it possible for us to honor the memory of our beloved son by doing this work.

We hope for Carter’s birthday that you’ll help us to continue serving children in Northeast Ohio affected by cancer, along with their families, and to continue enhancing patient experience at Cleveland Clinic Children's, University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northeast Ohio.

Please consider making a fully tax-deductible gift to The Carter Nedley Foundation.

Happy Birthday, son. We miss you more than words can say, and will love you forever.