Dakota Goodyear

Parker is a lively, energetic 10-year-old boy who loves to swing, run, and play fight over the blankets on the couch. His laughter fills the house as he enjoys his iPad and his carefree days. But when we noticed Parker limping and saw the spark of joy fade from his eyes, our world was turned upside down. The doctors confirmed that he had bone cancer. It felt like a gut punch, but Parker—our brave boy—took it in stride. After a cast was put on his leg, he couldn't swing or run like before, but he still managed to stay positive. He’s a happy boy, even if his joy is quieter now.

Parker’s older sister, Dakota, is a 12-year-old girl with autism. She doesn’t speak, but her heart speaks volumes. She senses that her brother isn’t the same happy, silly boy he once was. She's become quieter herself, retreating into herself as she tries to make sense of the changes. Every Friday, when she comes home, she looks for Parker, unsure why he’s not around or why things feel different.

Jonie, Parker’s mom, has been trying her best to be there for him during his treatments, attending every chemo session she can. With Dakota by her side, they spend more quiet moments together, finding comfort in each other’s presence. As for me—I'm Grandma, the steady hand that tries to hold everything together. It’s been an incredibly challenging time, both mentally and financially, but I always put on a brave face, doing my best to stay upbeat for Dakota and Parker.

To give you a better picture of our family, Jonie has been unable to work for the past couple of years, so I’ve become her primary means of transportation. My husband, who struggles with bipolar disorder, has a hard time leaving the house, which means much of the responsibility falls on me. Despite the challenges, we’ve been blessed to have the support of Courageous Kidz during this difficult time. They’ve been a true lifeline.

This past year has been one of the hardest we’ve faced. Watching Parker fight through his illness has been heartbreaking, but he’s been nothing short of a trooper. After months of treatment, he’s finally finished. We’ve watched him slowly regain his strength, learning to trust us—and others—to help him walk again. His journey has been a tough one, especially when he dropped down to just 36 pounds, but we’ve cheered as he’s fought to get back to 55 pounds.

Jonie has been strong for Parker and Dakota, doing her best to hold the family together. Slowly, Dakota is starting to understand that her brother is getting better, and it’s been such a relief to see them reconnect, to see them becoming siblings again after all the turmoil.

It hasn’t been easy, especially financially, but it’s worth every struggle to see Parker and Dakota on the path to recovery. The prayers, the support from family and friends, and the kindness from those around us have been such a blessing. We are so grateful for all of it. Through the ups and downs, we are a family—and we’re stronger because of it.

- Disney
- Playing Make Believe
- Play-Doh
- Toys for children with Autism

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