All-Star Beau's hospital experience overlooking Kinnick Stadium

Even if you are not a Hawkeye fan, you have likely heard of “The Wave,” a moving tradition at the University of Iowa. During every home Hawkeye football game, fans turn toward the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital, waving to the young patients watching from the windows. 

For All-Star Beau and his family, “The Wave” became profoundly personal during their journey with childhood cancer.

Imagine being inspired by the wave – and then being hospitalized where it takes place: University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital.

At three years old, Beau was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer of the soft tissue. 

“I will never forget the look on the radiologist’s face, there was a big white part that should have been black,” Laura said. “I looked at Nate (Beau’s dad) and said, ‘It’s not cancer.’ That had never crossed my mind until then. I called my dad, and he was outside blowing snow. I told him it was a mass, and he started sobbing. Then I started crying.”

She remembers that on the night before Beau’s surgery, a bald eagle — her late mom’s favorite bird — flew over Kinnick Stadium.  

The next day, doctors removed a tumor the size of a softball from her son. Laura said it felt like her family had to fight for everything.

“We were terrified for our child’s future,” she said. “One minute you think you have everything figured out. Then you realize you have nothing figured out. Your only concern is the health piece, but soon it’s about the financial piece, too.”

Laura is a pediatric mental health specialist and had just opened an office and was back to seeing children in person after the Covid lockdown when Beau was diagnosed. Nate is a project manager for a construction company.

Beau’s diagnosis required Laura to return to working from home, juggling what she could get done while caring for Beau, who could not go to daycare. Nate continued to work.

Laura said she was constantly anxious. She wasn’t sleeping and could not leave the house except to go to the hospital. Her stress went up further every time they accessed Beau’s port.

That is where the Pinky Swear Community steps in. The Pinky Swear Orange Envelope program and Pinky Swear All-Star Fund provide financial support for everyday expenses and heartfelt letters of encouragement to families facing childhood cancer. 

“The assistance provided a bit of hope and a feeling that humanity can be good," Laura said. "It was a huge relief in a time when life was dark.”

Today, Beau is a lively, creative kindergartener who loves tinkering, playing baseball, and making friends wherever he goes. His family celebrates each clear scan as a victory and embraces a newfound focus on living in the moment. Gratitude for the generosity they received during Beau’s treatment has inspired them to give back and help others facing similar challenges.

This December, Beau and his family will participate in the 2024 Pinky Swear Radiothon, sharing their story to help raise critical funds for other families navigating childhood cancer. Their involvement is a testament to the power of giving, both in receiving and paying it forward.

Join Beau’s family in making a difference for children with cancer and their families. Tune in to the Radiothon to hear his story told by Beau's mom Laura, and donate today to help more pediatric cancer families. Together, we can say 'yes' to more families facing childhood cancer so they can focus on what matters most - their child.