TAMPA – Words no parent ever wants to hear: “Your child has cancer.” It’s a life-changing moment, and one that too many families face every year as pediatric cancers remain the leading cause of death from disease in children between the ages of 1 and 14 years.
For Christen Gray, that moment came when her 5-year-old son, Finn, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of Ewing’s Sarcoma. What followed was a long and courageous battle – one that ultimately took Finn’s life, but also gave rise to a movement of hope, advocacy and support for other families navigating the terrifying waters of pediatric cancer.
From their family’s pain, Finn’s Fighters was born. The nonprofit founded by Christen has grown into a powerful force for good. Working in partnership with St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital Foundation, Finn’s Fighters is on a mission to improve the experience of pediatric cancer patients and their families at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital.
“Nothing in our world stops for pediatric cancer,” Christen said. “But we’ve made it our mission to fight for the families still in the thick of it, just like Finn would have.”
This year marks five years since Finn’s passing – the same age he was when he was diagnosed – and the impact of his life continues to ripple through the Tampa Bay community and beyond.
A journey of love, loss and legacy
Finn was your typical 5-year-old boy. He loved music, dancing, roughhousing with his 6-year-old brother, Declan, and all things Lego. When he first complained of back pain, no one could have imagined it was cancer. But as the days passed, it didn’t get better.
On the first day of kindergarten, Finn could barely sit in a car seat without wincing in pain. Later that week, his school called to say he was not feeling well and was shaky on his feet. The next day, Finn could barely walk, and an MRI showed a tumor on his spine.
“By the grace of God and the talent of his neurosurgeon and team at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, he was able to regain movement after surgery,” Christen said. “We were given a diagnosis of Ewings Sarcoma. The surgery was four hours; waiting for diagnosis another 10. We suddenly were facing the worst fear any parent has: the mortality of their child.”
Over the next year, Finn’s journey included numerous surgeries, procedures, chemotherapy infusions, blood transfusions, platelet transfusions and hospital stays.
By May, he was finally able to ring the bell that signified the end of his treatment. That summer, the family enjoyed beach trips and a trip to Disney World. They were finally able to be together again.
But in August, during his second week of first grade, Finn’s first three-month follow-up MRI showed a new mass in a new location on his spine, meaning Finn had relapsed. The cancer was back. Despite the devastating news, the family remained hopeful thanks to the support of Finn’s care team at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital.
“We could not be more grateful for the amazing team at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital,” Christen said. “The care they showed Finn and our family was unbelievable. At times, we felt like the only patient in the hospital. The talent of the teams and the oncology department is top-notch. I don’t know what we would have done without them.”
Sadly, despite multiple treatments, Finn passed away peacefully in January 2020, surrounded by family and his beloved stuffed dog, Barkey. But for Christen, that wasn’t the end of their journey.
Building a legacy of support
In the quiet solitude of those long days and nights spent at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, Christen still found the strength to consider how she could help others experiencing the same nightmare.
“I spent so much time in the hospital where Finn just slept, and my mind just raced with so many thoughts,” Christen said. “I felt compelled to find a way to help increase awareness of pediatric cancers and support kids like my son and families like ours. We were so blessed for the support we received from St. Joe’s and our community. Finding a way to pay it forward just seemed like the right thing to do.”
So, in 2019, Christen started Finn’s Fighters. And today, the organization remains committed to increasing awareness of pediatric cancer and supporting families facing medical crisis in the Tampa Bay area.
Prioritizing mental health
During their time at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, Christen recognized a need for dedicated mental health support, especially in the emotionally overwhelming moments following a child’s cancer diagnosis.
So, three years ago, Finn’s Fighters and St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital Foundation teamed up to fund a new position to support the hospital’s pediatric cancer patients and their families. Thanks to Finn’s Fighters underwriting the program’s first year, a specially trained integrated mental health counselor is now available to all families, not only at the time of diagnosis, but throughout their cancer journey, acting as a conduit to help set up therapy services tailored to meet their needs.
“Nothing will ever make hearing the words ‘your child has cancer’ better, but having someone there with you when you hear them, and having a dedicated resource available to assist these families as they navigate such a roller coaster of emotions, will make a real difference,” Christen said. “I know the heartbreak of this journey, but I also know how much a resource like this will help, and I am so grateful to St. Joe’s for working with me to make it possible.”
Now that the new integrated mental health counselor is in place at the hospital, Finn’s Fighters is focused on continuing their mental health support. They are currently working on making sure families are getting psychological testing so they can receive the support they need.
In addition to their support of mental health services, Finn’s Fighters has expanded its reach at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital by providing families with small comforts that make a big difference.
Finn’s Fighters recently partnered with Tampa Laundry Company to provide laundry service to pediatric patients and families who need to spend more than two days in the hospital. The organization also provides meal deliveries twice a week for inpatient families, including pizza on Friday nights, and ‘hope cups’ filled with gift cards for newly diagnosed families – a small but heartfelt gesture that reminds families they are not alone.
“Finn’s Fighters is proud to support the hematology/oncology department at St. Joseph’s with weekly meal deliveries, gift card assistance, emergency bill pay and more,” Christen said. “Our goal is to help families feel cared for and supported in all the little ways, so they can focus on what matters most – their child.”
Outside of the hospital, Christen also continues to advocate nationally on behalf of families like hers, taking Finn’s Fighters to Washington, D.C. multiple times a year.
While nothing can undo the heartbreak of losing Finn, Christen says she and her family continue to ask: “What would Finn do?”
“And the answer is always the same,” she said. “He would fight with love and kindness. And that’s what we want to keep doing – fighting for families, just like Finn would have. We are so thankful to have a partner in St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital Foundation to continue that fight alongside us.”
Want to help?
Finn’s Fighters will host its biggest fundraising event of the year, the Dream Big Gala, on April 25 at the Shanna and Bryan Glazer Jewish Community Center. This annual event fuels Finn’s Fighters’ mission to provide hope and vital support to families facing pediatric cancer. Visit finnsfighters.org/events/gala to learn more.
