Help build a Treehouse of hope
Tough like
Teddy
When Teddy was Born, the Delivery Room Went Quiet.
The nurses said the markings on his skin were just bruises from the
C-section. A doctor told his parents, Jessica and Danny, that it was “just cosmetic.” They were discharged with reassurances but no real answers.
They brought their newborn son home, and carried fear with them.
They searched for explanations, but found little comfort. A pediatric dermatologist offered outdated information. Online searches led to frightening dead ends. They felt lost, as if they were wandering through a dense forest with no map, no light, and no one to call out to.
Until they found Nevus Outreach.
For the first time, someone understood what they were going through. Other parents had stood where they were standing. There was knowledge here, credible knowledge. And something more: connection. Support. The beginnings of hope.
And soon, they would need all of it.
One spring afternoon, Teddy came in from playing outside. Jessica noticed a spot on his nevus that looked darker than usual. It faded, but her instincts told her something wasn’t right.
Danny had seen it, too.
They pushed for a biopsy. And then came the waiting.
"Those three weeks felt like three years,"
-Jessica
And then the phone rang.
Melanoma.
One word. And in an instant, their world cracked open.
Drawing. Laughing. Beating his brother at Mario Kart. Telling stories. Dreaming about what he wanted to build when he grew up.
He had a favorite project: a treehouse.
He drew it again and again...each time adding more detail. A climbing ladder. A lookout window. A rope swing. A snack shelf. A secret password.
A space big enough for his brother. Strong enough to feel safe.
To Teddy, it was more than a playhouse.
But Teddy Was Still Just Teddy
That’s what your gift builds… something solid for families like Teddy’s.
$60
Provides newly diagnosed families with trusted medical information, so they don’t have to search alone.
$250
Connects parents with others who understand exactly what they’re facing and brings comfort no medical book can.
$500
Supports our patient registry, helping researchers and families see what’s ahead—and how to prepare for it.
