Jess Fin Grant recipients

Thanks to donations and fundraising efforts we have been able to provide monetary grants to these local Lehigh Valley individuals diagnosed with a primary malignant brain tumor. We know Jess would be very pleased to be helping individuals who have been diagnosed with brain cancer, especially children.

Meet Julia, a Bethlehem woman diagnosed with an ogliodendroglioma brain tumor in 2025. She is currently undergoing treatment for her brain cancer.

Julia is grateful for the grant as she needs the financial assistance.

Meet Heather... she is a young woman who is being treated in Philadelphia and has ties to Lehigh Valley area. Heather was diagnosed with a supratentorial ependymoma grade 3 brain tumor in December 2024. We were thankful to be able to provide Heather with a Jess Fin Grant in April 2025.

Meet Jameson! He was a 10-year-old boy from Emmaus when he was diagnosed with a grade 4 medulloblastoma brain tumor in his cerebellum in 2024.

Jameson had surgery in September 2024 and completed extensive radiation and chemotherapy in 2025. He is currently recovering well and looking forward to a Make-A-Wish trip to Disney in 2026!

Our Jess Fin Grant helped Jameson's Mom stay by his side during his treatments as she was unable to work while caring for him.

Meet Sam, our 2023 Jess Fin Grant recipient! When diagnosed he was a smiley 4-year-old who with an Atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (ATRT) in March of 2023. ATRT is a very rare and fast-growing cancerous tumor of the brain and spinal cord that typically affects children under the age of 3. Sam’s tumor started behind his left eye, which needed to be removed to fully resect his tumor. Sam had multiple surgeries and scans, received many rounds of intensive chemotherapy, and 60 proton beam radiation treatments, and has finished his treatment.

Amanda, Sam’s mom, describes Sam as a bright, happy, silly, and energetic little boy with lots of personality and love for his family, friends, Lightning McQueen, and best dog friend, Pippin.

Sam’s family is very thankful for the grant and said it allowed them to do something fun for Sam and provided comfort when they needed to take time off from work to care for Sam.

He is currently doing well and had a clean scan in January 2026!

Meet Jamie! When diagnosed, she was a 23-year-old Spanish teacher at Northampton High School. Jamie was diagnosed with a brain tumor the size of a lime in February 2023. After many scans, she had brain surgery in April and found out her tumor was a grade 2 anaplastic astrocytoma glioma. Surgeons were unable to remove her tumor completely due to complications and she has been taking chemotherapy to manage the remainder of her tumor. She will need to remain on chemo and get quarterly MRIs for the rest of her life.

Jamie is very thankful for the financial help.

Sue Redfield was a member of Bethany Church and a resident of Allentown PA. She was diagnosed in January 2024 with a glioblastoma grade 4 inoperable brain tumor. Sue completed 3 weeks of radiation and chemotherapy treatment to fight her tumor. When Sue needed assistance the financial grant aided in their ability to get some necessary equipment she needs. Sue went on hospice with no new treatment available and passed away in September 2024.