Welcome to the Fearless Fighters Foundation
Our foundation is dedicated to funding advanced pediatric cancer research as well as easing the financial strain of families facing pediatric cancer and supplying those families with resources to help keep them connected and together.
We are committed to finding new and targeted treatment options for childhood cancers and crushing cancer off the planet.
In June 2020 we noticed a slightly swollen lymph node on the right side of Dylan’s neck. He was scheduled for his 14-year-old checkup that month. His pediatrician was made aware and was not concerned at that time. In July the lymph node seemed just a little bigger. Dylan was seen by a Nurse Practitioner who was not overly concerned due to no other symptoms being present. We were told to come back if there was any further increase in size or any other symptoms. Dylan had been playing baseball, Lacrosse, doing CrossFit training, and was very active with friends that whole time without incident. By August, the lymph node had become much bigger and he was having increased thirst.
We made an appointment with the pediatrician and after Dylan was assessed he immediately referred us to a Pediatric surgeon at Akron Children’s Hospital.
On September 4, 2020, Dylan had surgery to remove the lymph node on the right side of his neck and a lymph node biopsy was done. After the surgery, the Pediatric Surgeon told us that Dylan had Lymphoma, but it was not clear which type. The stains under the microscope were not staining for classic Hodgkin’s, which is what they originally thought he had. The immunostains were repeated and the results were still unclear because the immunostains were showing characteristics of both Hodgkin’s and Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. The stains were then sent to an adult hospital and there was still no answer. After that, the stains were sent out to a well-known pathologist at the National Institute of Health. An accurate diagnosis was needed to be made in order to determine the correct treatment.
While we were waiting on results for a diagnosis, Dylan had extensive blood work done, EKG, Echocardiogram, CT scans with contrast of his neck, pelvis, chest, and abdomen. He also had an MRA and MRI of his brain and a bone marrow biopsy. Those results showed disease all over. The lymph nodes in his neck, right and left supraclavicular nodes, his chest, and spleen, thoracic spine with a T-3 compression deformity, soft tissue areas at the skull base, soft tissue into the spinal canal, and bone marrow were all involved. On September 22, 2020, an official diagnosis was made and staging was determined based on the scans. Dylan was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s T cell histiocyte-rich mature B cell Lymphoma stage IV. This type of cancer is not typical in kids and there are few case reports in adults. Hearing that our son had cancer was the most heartbreaking news, but to also learn it was a rare form of cancer was extremely devastating.
The outcome was unknown. The fear that we felt was indescribable.
How could this be happening? Our son had cancer… this couldn’t be real.
On September 21, 2020, Dylan had surgery to have a double lumen med-port placed in his upper left chest so he could have IV access for chemo, fluids, medications, and blood draws. On September 23, 2020, Dylan was admitted to the hospital and started chemotherapy. He was to have 6 rounds of chemo and lumbar punctures to have chemo put directly into his spinal fluid, ALL INPATIENT. Dylan’s oncologist told us that 95% of the time patients end up back in the hospital after chemo due to fever or mouth sores. This was very accurate. Dylan ended up in the hospital after every round of chemo due to side effects. He endured long hospital stays with so much discomfort. He dealt with frequent fevers, chills, body aches, mouth sores (so bad that he needed a PCA pump to control his pain), allergic reactions, antibiotics, change in taste, weight loss, hair loss, vomiting and diarrhea, weakness, and fatigue, numbness, rashes, oral thrush, infections, shortness of breath, anxiety, pain, and emotional distress. He spent a total of 106 days admitted to the hospital. He had 13 platelet transfusions, 9 blood transfusions, 15 lumbar punctures, and 4 bone marrow biopsies.
When scans were repeated to check his progress from chemo, they continued to show improvement and reduction in size of areas of concern. January 29, 2021, Dylan had surgery to biopsy the mass in his chest to determine if disease was present or if there was dead scar tissue. These results determined the next course of treatment. If the biopsy showed active disease, his treatment plan would change and he would need different chemo and more than likely an autologous stem cell transplant. Thankfully it showed that the mass was dead scar tissue and he could move on to the maintenance phase of treatment. He finished his chemo in March and had scans in April which showed that everything looked stable -to -improved. His bone marrow showed no evidence of Lymphoma. Dylan was in REMISSION! On May 4, 2021, he rang the bell signaling that he was done with treatment. What a glorious sound that bell made! On April 23, 2021, he had surgery to remove his med-port. We couldn’t be more proud of Dylan for continuing to fight for 8 long months. For never giving up, when sometimes it was hard not to. He will have monthly check ups with his oncologist and blood work done. He will have CT scans and or ultrasounds/X-rays every 3 months. This will be done for 3 years and then hopefully he will move on to survivorship after that.
Only 4% of all federal funding for cancer research goes towards pediatric cancer.
We know 4% is not enough for these kids, and it’s up to private organizations like us to make that difference. To put that in perspective, Americans spend more in 1 week at Starbucks than what is designated for all pediatric cancer research.
So many people supported Dylan and our family as he went through treatment.
The kindness, love, and support that was shown by family, friends, neighbors, local businesses, elected officials, sports personalities, and even strangers were beyond amazing! We couldn’t have gone through this journey without them. I was able to quit my job to stay with Dylan during the week and Ed would visit in the evenings and stay on the weekends.
He was never alone.
Unfortunately, this was not the case for everyone. We saw firsthand how many families didn’t have the resources, support, and help (like we did ) to allow them to stay together throughout the entirety of their child’s treatment. We also saw how some of these kids go through treatment for years and some that go through treatment that doesn’t work.
As a cancer family that’s been there, we understand the financial and emotional strain that this disease causes on every member of the family. This foundation is so close to our hearts and we want to help in any way that we can!
No child and no family should ever have to go through this, especially alone.
Edward Fink – President and Co-Founder
Married for over 17 years to his wife Krista and is a proud father of 2 wonderful boys, Dylan (15) and Grady (12). In September of 2021, he and his wife formed Fearless Fighters Foundation, Inc. after his son Dylan battled a rare form of stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma from Sept 2020- March 2021. Since then, it has been his and his wife’s mission to help fund childhood cancer research and help families who are currently going through treatment. Ed believes in surrounding himself with top-tier talent that has the same shared values such as integrity and valuing everyone’s ideas and opinions.
Ed enjoys traveling with his family, watching his boys compete in baseball, basketball, and lacrosse, and is an avid fan of the Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Guardians, and Ohio State.
Krista Fink- Co-Founder
Krista has been a R.N for over 17 years working with the elderly in Skilled Nursing and Nursing Homes in Northeast Ohio. Krista stayed by her son’s side almost each and every day as her son Dylan battled cancer with his 100+ days of in-patient treatment at Akron Children’s Hospital. During that time she was able to meet many families and other children who were going through their own battle and identified many needs within the pediatric cancer community. Krista loves spending time with her family and watch her boys compete in basketball, baseball, and lacrosse.
John D. May III – Treasurer
John D. May III, CFP®
is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™. He serves as Vice President and is a part-owner. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Financial Services with a concentration in Financial Planning from the University of Akron. John has an immense knowledge of various financial planning concepts and works directly with clients, assisting them in making sound financial decisions. Client feedback shows that John can effectively take sophisticated investment and planning concepts and articulate them in simple and easy-to-understand dialogue. He dedicates time to understanding the ever-changing landscape in financial services, advancing his own knowledge to implement with existing and new clients. John enjoys spending time with his wife and three children. He is also actively involved in the community serving on several non-profit boards. His leadership has helped influence many in his community.
Susan Murtaugh – Secretary
Susan has devoted the last 20 years of her professional career to service – caring for her customers who rely on an organization’s integrity; caring for individuals who depend on her as a mentor. With a dynamic personality and a caregiving spirit, Susan leads with transparency, listens with sincerity, and unites with positivity. Her professional service experience parallels her charitable contributions as an educator with her local parish, an organizer in community breast cancer initiatives, with organizations like the Two-Foundation, which provides employment opportunities for individuals with exceptionalities, and countless other benevolence. Her proficiency in building and transforming teams through inclusion and engagement reinforces her devotion to servicing our most valued and cherished asset – people.
Jennifer Eaton, Ph.D. – Director of Research and Philanthropy
Jennifer Eaton, Ph.D, CHRC is currently the Vice President of Research, Sponsored Programs & Innovation for Summa Health in Akron, OH. She obtained her Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Biology/Biomedical Sciences from Kent State University/NEOMED, and has more than 15 years of experience in research and healthcare.
In her current role, she is responsible for growing the research, sponsored program and innovation enterprise both at Summa Health, and across the region in collaboration with academic partners. She has responsibility for the overall management and operations of the Office of Research Administration, Office of Sponsored Programs, Office of Technology Management, Office of Clinical Research Billing, the Summa Health Clinical Research Center and the Summa Health Translational Research Center. Her current research interests include development and evaluation of a potential personalized medicine model for improving cancer care, decreasing healthcare cost and removing barriers to ensure equitable delivery of healthcare.
Jennifer currently serves as the Director of Research and Philanthropy for the Fearless Fighters Foundation and as a Board Member of the American Red Cross Greater Akron/Mahoning Valley Chapter, and she is a past recipient of the 30 for the Future award from the Akron Chamber of Commerce. Jennifer lives in Stow, OH with her husband, Ward Eaton, and their two boys.
Michelle Yukich- Director of Fundraising & Sponsorships