Hopecam Mt. Everest Honored Children

Len Forkas will dedicate each of his 25 stops during his Mt. Everest climb, to Hopecam children.

Stop 1: owen - KINDERGARTEN, san antonio, tx

Owen uses his Hopecam tablet to not only talk to his friends at school but also family too, then also on long days at the clinic or during hospital stays he gets to watch some of his favorite movies or shows! Thank you so much Hopecam for providing us with technology for Owen!

STOP 2: MIRANDA - GRADE 1, Brockport, NY

“Hello, I’m Miranda. Thanks to Hopecam I was able to connect with my school, family and friends when I had cancer. Thanks Hopecam and thanks Len!”

STOP 3: ERICK - GRADE 12, Rochester, NY

Erick is very happy with his device. Now he has more time to explore the internet, and he’s less bored and he uses it for social media. He’s very thankful to you guys. 👏🏻 Thank you!

STOP 4: LIZZIE - KINDERGARTEN, Fort Worth, TX

Lizzie’s tablet has been so useful! We use it on the plane to travel to the hospital and she also uses it to zoom with her teachers. She’s now doing homebound schooling because of her health and the tablet has been so instrumental in allowing us to do that when we’re traveling. Good luck Len on your climb! Lizzie loves to be outside as much as she can when she is feeling her best and we take her on little hikes closer to home!

STOP 5: MILES - GRADE 4, Washington DC.

Miles was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in February. He loves playing soccer and wants to become a pro soccer player. He likes the hospital stays because he gets new LEGO sets from the team. Miles has already started using the laptop for accessing his virtual classroom his teachers have set up for him to keep him up to date with all his assignments and classmates.

STOP 6: KAYELAH - GRADE 12, Miami, FL

Hopecam has been a blessing to us from the chrome book to the cooking sessions that we were given a chance to participate in . Without that chrome book she would not have been able to complete assignments needed for homebound or even for the cooking class as they were virtual as well . We can not thank Len enough for what he is doing for our kids letting them know that someone other than their parents care about their well being. It helps her look up recipes as she is an inspiring chef for the near future and search for places to travel as that is something that she wants to truly do ! Please tell Len we love him and thank you so much for all he does for our kids!

STOP 7: Marquavion - KINDERGARTEN, Charlotte, NC

Marquavion loves to do duo calls with his other classmates in his spare time . He is able to join Zoom by himself for his homeschooling. He also likes looking at YouTube videos of dirt bike racing, and arts and crafts.

STOP 8: Danica - GRADE 6, Elk Creek, MO

Danica is very outgoing. She really looks forward to connecting with Natalie to cook. She really is looking forward to connecting with others who are going through similar situations. I do believe she will use it to connect with other kids through outschool as well.

STOP 9: Nicholas - GRADE 10, Bethesda, MD

On December 1, 2022 we received news that Nicholas was diagnosed with paraosteosarcoma....Bone Cancer in his lower left femur. After intense tryouts with the Maryland Olympic Development Program for the State Soccer team, he began to feel pain in his leg, just above the knee. After continued aches/pains, we got in to see the Orthopedic Specialist after two weeks, who gave us this terrible diagnosis. Over the next week, we aggressively worked with numerous specialists in Baltimore, Northern Virginia, and Children's Hospital in DC.

STOP 10: NASH - PRE K, McKenzie, TN

Nash just turned five years old and loves dressing up as a police officer. He attends preschool and his favorite use for his tablet is connecting with his classroom during story time. Thank you Hopecam for this opportunity to keep connected to the classroom! The tablet is beyond useful for Nash to connect to the outside world at this time.

stop 11: Logan - Kindergarten, Republic, MO

Logan was diagnosed with Leukemia back in Nov 2019. We headed immediately to St Jude in Memphis. We spent the holidays together as a family in Ronald McDonald House that year. Logan fought his cancer for 2.5 years after that. He finally was in remission in August 2022. In January 2023 the unthinkable happened. Logan went in for a routine lab check and we got the news, the cancer was back. Our social worker at St. Jude told us about Hopecam. It was a way he could interact with his friends and classmates in a way that wasn't possible before. He was able to video chat and fully see and sign with his friends and family. It has truly been a life line for him! And me as his mom, too. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Also good luck climbing Mt Everest, Len!

stop 12: Azileah - Grade 1, Alamogordo, NM

Azileah absolutely loves her chromebook! We cannot thank you guys enough for it. The chromebook has been so helpful with school work since Azileah has been and will be missing so much school. We decided to homeschool her at this time, so it helps us out a lot!

stop 13: YASH - Grade 9, Cary, NC

My name is Yash - I am 14 years old . I have a condition called Constitutional MisMatch Repair Deficiency (CMMRD). I am the only person in the world with homozygous EPCAM Gene deletion (There are 5 types of genes associated with CMMRD) -- I am literally one of a kind! CMMRD is a cancer predisposition syndrome because of which I will continue to get cancers throughout my life. I have beat colon cancer, rectal cancer, ampullary cancer and multiple small bowel cancer resections. I continue to beat the odds through my excellent medical team at Boston Childrens and Sick Kids Toronto who are constantly researching and working hard. I live in NC and travel to Boston for my medical care. I love sports in general, especially the UNC Tar Heels, Kansas City Chiefs and Hurricanes/Bruins!

stop 14: AXEL - PRE K, Edmond, WV

Long story short, after 2 1/2 years of hospital stays from birth, Axel was with Fanconi Anemia. Fanconi Anemia is a rare blood disease that causes your bone marrow to shut down. That is why Axel is presently inpatient with a bone marrow transplant. This will cure the blood issues but with fanconi it's more than just blood issues. Axel is at a much higher risk for cancer as well. Fanconi attacks all organs as well. Axel uses his tablet to participate in school work online with his class at home. He uses it to video call family, his dad, siblings, and other friends when he is missing them. Axel also uses his tablet to watch videos during procedures to help keep his mind distracted from what's going on and to pass time while he has infusions. Thank you all so much for your support!

stop 15: JOHN - GRADE 3, Bowling Green, VA

John has sickle cell and misses school sporadically. John “Tubby” is an energetic Fun loving and sensitive child who loves his family and enjoys spending time with his friends. He loves sports and playing games. John uses his Hopecam equipment to do his in-home tutoring twice a week.

stop 16: Britney - GRADE 4, El Campo, TX

Britney loves to listen to music all the time and dance, she relaxes listening to music either at the hospital or at home using her tablet, she is a very cheerful girl and loves colorful lights since that motivates her to dance and make her forget her illness at least for a moment. The device has been really helpful for her to have fun in those difficult moments. Thank you very much for everything.

stop 17: Claire - PRE K, Wetherington, OH

Claire is using her Hopecam laptop at least 3x weekly for virtual preschool sessions with The Morgan Center! She has also used it to connect with her family/cousins/friends who are out of state! Thank you so much Hopecam for helping her along the way with connecting with the outside world! Claire is bright, so observant, and loves to be active when feeling well. She loves to ride her bike, build legos, and learn about space, fire trucks, and animals. She is also so brave and sweet!

stop 18: Meredith - Miami, FL

My name is Marlise and I am Meredith's mom, and I am writing to thank Hopecam for providing the computer to my little girl. She is currently cleared by oncologists to go to school, but she is missing a lot of classes due to the multiple appointments that she has every month. Thanks to Hopecam, she is able to catch up with assignments at home. She even uses the computer at the Hospital while receiving blood transfusions. She has been through a lot for the past two years, and this computer has definitely made her way of Education easier. Thank you for all you do!

stop 19: Jonathan - GRADE 8, Ewing, VA

Jonathan is a fun-loving, easy going soon to be 14 year old (May 30th). Jonathan was diagnosed with Medullablastoma on December 6 after a tumor was removed from the base of his brain at Le Bonheur Hospital. He has undergone both brain and spinal radiation therapy and is now undergoing chemotherapy at St. Judes in Memphis. This process will keep him in Memphis through approximately September of this year. Jonathan has been a trooper and takes each day as it comes and remains strong and never misses a chance to laugh.

stop 20: LOREN - GRADE 5, Cape Girardeau, MO

Loren has a love for all animals and old rock music. He finds joy in fishing and Elvis songs! Thank you very much.

stop 21: Valerie - GRADE 5, Waukesha, WI

Valerie was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in September 2018. She completed two years of treatment. She's recently in a new trial in Madison, WI so she has been fighting for four years. Hopping she can go back to her life, without cancer.

stop 22: Neal - GRADE 5, Bowie, MD

My name is Neal and I’m 10 years old. I was born with sickle cell disease and in October 2023, I underwent a bone marrow transplant in hopes of curing my sickle cell disease. My journey hasn’t been easy, it’s been years of pain crisis, multiple blood transfusion, acute chest and numerous hospital stays. I’m a brave, strong young boy and I credit my parents for loving and caring for me unconditionally. In October, I had my bone marrow transplant, spent a total of 49 days in the hospital and finally went home on December 1. I’m so thankful for the many support I received while at the hospital, especially from Hopecam. I was able to continue my school using the Chromebook Hopecam provided me with – thank you for the provision you allowed me to have during my hospital stay. Thank you for all that you do and I appreciate your support. All through my disease, I’ve had to be nothing but a brave warrior – Mr. Len, you’re being a brave man by climbing Mount Everest for us. Good luck and I’m cheering you all the way up.

stop 23: Riley - GRADE 1, Clinton, IA

Riley is 7 years old with Medulloblastoma. His tumor was 100% removed with no spread to his spinal fluid, spine, or head. He did, unfortunately, end up with posterior fossa syndrome which left him mute, and unable to move his arms or legs which put him in a wheelchair. A year later he is still in a wheelchair but able to communicate a little more. He had photon radiation at St. Jude and next month he will be finishing up his 7th cycle of chemo. He was a micro preemie (weighing 1 lb 11 oz) and has been fighting his whole life! He's a warrior, my hero, a fighter, a caring little boy. Thank you so much for everything you have done for my little man!

stop 24: Kynna - GRADE 2, Bedford, IA

Kynasen (Kynna) is 8 years old, fighting a rare brain tumor (ATRT) at St. Jude in Memphis, TN. She has loved using her chrome book while we are here to help her stay connected with her classmates and brothers. She’s also used it to play games and watch some of her favorite shows. It has really helped her feel more connected to home!

stop 25: Dre - GRADE 6, Union City, GA

Meet "Dre” who is a Hopecam kid from Union City, Georgia! In late 2019, he was diagnosed with Medulloblastoma and began treatment at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta before later moving to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Dre has long days and nights in the hospital, isolated and away from his family, friends, and classmates. He is using his Hopecam tablet and Zoom to stay connected to his support systems. He also uses his tablet on the many trips back and forth from the hospital for treatment. Dre's Hopecam is allowing him to stay connected to his world. At one point Dre was in remission, but sadly the disease has returned and he has now relapsed.