The Battle of the Badges honoree is 23-month-old, 𝗟𝗲𝗻𝗻𝘆 𝗜𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗞𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗰𝗸, of Cross Plains. Lenny’s journey began when her parents, Ben and Melissa, noticed an unusual growth on her jaw. On January 14th, 2025, the family received devastating news that Lenny has neuroblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer that primarily affects young children. Two weeks ago, Lenny received her first round of chemotherapy treatment.

Over the previous few weeks, Lenny has undergone extensive testing and doctor visits to determine her exact prognosis and optimal treatment plan. These tests revealed that the tumor on her jaw was not the primary source of her neuroblastoma; there are actually six tumor sites throughout her body, located in her legs, spine, and near her pelvic bone (the pelvic bone being the largest of approximately 2 inches in diameter). Given this spread, Lenny has been diagnosed with Stage 4 neuroblastoma. Additionally, her specific cancer was identified as intermixed gangleoneromablastoma which is generally unresponsive to traditional chemotherapy.

Given these complex risk factors, Melissa and Ben went on a nationwide search to find the hospital best equipped to treat Lenny’s unique case. This search led them to Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) in New York City. After careful consideration, the MSK team has decided on a treatment plan that begins with 3-4 rounds of specialized chemotherapy followed by surgical removal of the cancer sites. Fortunately, the MSK oncology team is working in collaboration with Lenny’s local UW oncology team, allowing her to begin her treatment close to home at UW, with the final steps and surgeries to be performed at MSK in NYC.