Juno Augustus Wolff is our firstborn son. Baby Juno entered the world on October 11, 2022, the most magical day of our lives. We had the most beautiful two months of newborn bliss, getting to know our baby as he developed and reached new milestones, while existing in a perfect bubble of love.
Unfortunately at around 6 weeks old, we began noticing some strange symptoms, including a lump on his ribs, decreased strength in his right arm, and drooping in his right eye. We kept taking Juno to the pediatrician where he was constantly being referred to different specialists. We were becoming very frustrated and anxious because we knew these symptoms were somehow related but nobody was taking it seriously.
It wasn't until we rushed Juno to the ER with sudden swelling in his chest and neck, that we were told the devastating news that Juno had many malignant tumors throughout his body. Juno was diagnosed with Malignant Rhabdoid Tumor on December 22, 2023. This cancer is so rare that only about 20 kids a year receive this diagnosis. It is considered overwhelmingly fatal in infants and he was given a 7-14% chance to live past the age of 2. There is no standard protocol as there isn't enough research to find one. We were absolutely crushed to suddenly be facing the reality that we would soon lose our baby boy.
Baby Juno's cancer battle lasted from the time he was admitted at 9 weeks of old, until the morning he passed away in our arms at almost 4 months of age, on February 2, 2023. Our lives were completely shattered that day and we will never be the same people we once were. We miss our boy so desperately.
Juno had a complex and difficult battle. He endured two rounds of aggressive chemo, symptomatic covid, blood clots from tumor restriction, hydrocephalus & two surgeries to relieve the symptoms, eventually a seizure, and a rapid decline as the cancer spread through his brain. However, even through all of this, he only really had a handful of bad days, which we are eternally grateful for. Our beautiful boy was such a happy and loving baby. He was curious, expressive, and he loved to smile and laugh with everyone. He was such an easy baby - effortless to comfort. He soaked in our love and poured it right back to us. I will always remember when he began having "conversations" with us at around 12 weeks old - he would babble at us and try to repeat sounds and words. He successfully repeated the word "okay" on so many occasions. That became our mantra together. "That's ok!" we would say to him, and it made us feel so good to hear him say it back to us, like he was trying to tell us that it would indeed all be "ok".
The tragedy of losing our beloved firstborn son has instilled in us a desire to do everything possible to help prevent other children from reaching this terrible fate. We were so shocked during this terrible journey to learn about the statistic that only around 8% of the United States' federal funding towards cancer research is allocated towards childhood cancer. Imagine the fraction of a cent that must go towards the more uncommon cancers like Rhabdoid tumor. The reality is that rare cancers are not worth the expense and trouble for drug manufacturers to research in order to develop effective treatment - there is no incentive for profit.
In Juno's memory, we pledge to spend the rest of our lives sharing his story, as well as the stories of other angels like him, and do everything we can to help fund the necessary research to help children live.
