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Brea, Finley, David, and Gianna
The Ride Janie Ride Foundation would like to introduce to you our 2026 recipients. It is our honor to have them as part of the Ride Janie Ride family. Continue scrolling to read each of their biographies. Ride Janie Ride would like to thank all of those who nominated individuals. We will not forget any of the nominees and hope that they may be part of Ride Janie Ride in the future.
Brea
Brea is a bright athletic 16 year old junior in high school.
At the beginning of her sophomore year on 8/21/2024, Brea’s life changed forever. She received the diagnosis of Non-Hodgkins T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Lymphoma.
As a softball player, Brea was reporting back pain and shortness of breath while practicing that came on suddenly over a few days. It turns out she had a tumor growing quickly and rapidly in her chest.
Immediately Brea was treated at Advocate Children’s Hospital and put on a 2.5 year chemo regimen. On a positive note, she was found 1 month into chemo to not have any sign of cancer cells in her body. In order to increase her overall survivorship however, Brea benefits to complete the whole span of chemo.
Chemo has been pretty harsh for Brea and she has spent 70-80 total days in the hospital, many ER visits and significant side effects. Brea developed pancreatitis and then extreme gallbladder irritation. Her gallbladder was removed and stents have been placed in her bile ducts along her liver to make sure her body keeps processing waste appropriately.
Unfortunately Brea may have to have a few more procedures to make sure that her bile duct area stays open and heals. She will also have liver counts checked regularly to make sure the chemo is not affecting that area.
Brea has to get screened by a cardiologist as well to make sure her heart is doing well. One of the chemo drugs is now on an allergy list for Brea as it may have caused all the major side effects.
Brea missed her entire sophomore year of school. Despite all the complications, Brea has major goals. She is so grateful to be in school for junior year and she is working on her comeback for softball. During and when her treatment is done, Brea has a goal to play high level softball and hopes to continue this into college.
Finley
Just 6 short weeks after her baby brother was born Finley was diagnosed with B cell Acute lymphoblastic Leukemia. Finley had been slightly pale and started to have unexplained bruising just days before diagnosis. She was admitted the same day she was diagnosed and just days later had surgery to insert her port catheter and received her first dose of chemo the same day.
Finley is considered high risk because of her initial white blood cell count meaning more chemo, stronger doses, and immunotherapy. Finley has since had multiple spinal chemos, chemo infusions, chemo shots, and immunotherapy. She was hospitalized the majority of her first month of diagnosis due to fevers and other complications. She also had a severe anaphylactic reaction to one of the chemos so she now has to receive 6 shots per one dose of the chemo. Finley had to stop going to preschool due to her low immune system which she was not happy about. Unfortunately, her journey will be a long one, her finish line for treatment is roughly January 2028.
Finley loves to play with her 3 year old sister Gemma and loves her new baby brother Nolan! She is everything girly, unicorns, glitter, princesses, and has the best imagination. She loves to play with all the nurses, doctors, and child life anytime they come into her room. When she grows up she wants to be a doctor, scientist, chef, and artist! Finley’s mom and dad have had great support from their police community. Their police department displays a giant banner that says Finley Strong! They even held together an event to shave their heads alongside Finley so she wouldn’t feel alone. Finley’s parents credit their strength to God and their friends and family.
Gianna
Gianna’s world shifted dramatically in May 2024. What began as a lingering respiratory illness and simple aches escalated through multiple doctor visits, finally culminating on May 21st when blood tests revealed a dangerously low platelet count. Gianna was rushed from Edwards Children's ER in Naperville to Comer Children's Hospital in Chicago, where the diagnosis of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) was confirmed. The very next day, Gianna began the fight with the start of her first round of chemotherapy.
The battle grew more complex in June 2024. Genetic testing brought a high-risk outlook due to the AML's aggressive mutations, confirming the need for a bone marrow or stem cell transplant. July brought a surge of hope: not only did Gianna achieve full remission, but a donor search also identified three potential bone marrow donors.
August 2024 was a period of intense preparation and challenge. A second round of chemotherapy was administered, a bacterial infection led to another hospital admission, and extensive pre-transplant procedures were completed, including a step to preserve Gianna’s future fertility with the removal of one of her ovaries.
Transplant admission came on September 16, 2024, where Gianna underwent more chemotherapy to completely suppress her immune system. Then, a heartbreaking setback: the identified bone marrow donor withdrew. A swift pivot was made to a double cord blood stem cell transplant, which took place over two days, September 25th and 26th.
October 2024 brought a VOD (veno-occlusive disease) diagnosis—a severe, life-threatening complication of the transplant. This required a transfer to the PICU for dialysis. After a period of intense critical care, Gianna rang the celebratory bell and was discharged on November 14th. The fight was far from over, however, as December introduced a TA-TMA (Transplant Associated Thrombotic microangiopathy) diagnosis, necessitating new infusion medication and continued steroids to control severe edema.
A major milestone was celebrated on January 5, 2025: 100 days post-transplant. In February 2025, an admission for a bronchoscopy turned catastrophic when Gianna's lungs suddenly failed, landing her back in the PICU on a ventilator. A lung biopsy confirmed the cause - lung GVHD (Graft-versus-host disease). After weeks of struggle, the ventilator was finally removed on March 7th, and she was discharged later that month.
Her journey of recovery continued with a flare-up of the lung GVHD in April 2025, resulting in another admission and discharge in mid-April with the companion of a bi-pap machine and oxygen. May 21, 2025, marked the one-year anniversary of her AML diagnosis. In June, a significant symbol of progress—the removal of her central line—was tempered by new skin issues from her medications and a BK virus caused by immunosuppression. The summer months were dedicated to regaining strength through PT/OT and clinic visits three times a week.
