A Young Boy's Spiritual Bond With Jamie

"Jamie and Karen have been there for us in so many ways! They ran interference against the pain."

"Jamie often visits hospital patients in need of a hero.or just someone to talk with. One young person who changed Jamie's life is Gregory Chaya. They met in 1993, when Greg was two, waiting for a bone marrow transplant at Johns Hopkins, and Jamie was trying to resurrect his baseball career. When Jamie went to visit Greg they formed a spiritual bond, giving each other strength. Then Greg suffered a relapse and the doctors said, 'Go home, there's no hope.' But they found hope at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center for a second transplant"
Karen Moyer

"Jamie and Karen have been there for us in so many ways! When Greg was very sick, they spent time with our other two boys. They offered relief from the sadness and worry and gave us happy moments. They ran interference against the pain, and were always there with, "You can do it!"...and we knew we could do anything!"
Margaret Chaya (Gregory's mother)

Connected in a spiritual bond with his friend Gregory, Jamie Moyer resurrected his career. Jamie wore Gregory's initials, "GC", on his hat the rest of that 1993 season. Several years ago, in Gregory's fifth year of remission, the Moyer's celebrated with Gregory and his family in Pennsylvania. Both families try to see each other every year. Gregory and his mom came to Seattle to speak at the Hutch Award Luncheon in 2001. At the luncheon, the Chaya's shared their story with hopes of raising money to help other kids.

The visit to see Gregory in 1993 at Johns Hopkins was a true reality check for the Moyer's; a wake up call for the blessings they already had. After that visit, the Moyer's committed themselves to those in need in the communities where Jamie played baseball. And now, The Moyer Foundation carries out that goal and dream. Thank you, Gregory, for being our ultimate inspiration

Baseball Kept Ryan Baldwin Going

"Ryan always kept his spirits up, even when the rest of us could not."

Through the Chaya family, when Gregory Chaya was getting his second transplant, Karen and Jamie met Ryan Baldwin, a Hutch patient in 1994. The Baldwin family, from Indiana, visited the Moyers for a Notre Dame football game that fall. Very ill from leukemia treatment, Ryan was a trooper. He truly took the most out of that day because he lived each day as though it was his last.

The Moyer Foundation created a 2002 "What Cancer Cannot Do" calendar and dedicated it to Ryan's memory. The calendar raised $50,000 for the Hutch School, a school for children who are undergoing cancer treatments at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Ryan attended the Hutch School during the Winter and Spring of 1994.

Ryan loved all sports. His favorite was baseball; he never missed a season through all of his treatments. Baseball is what kept him going. Ryan always kept his spirits up, even when the rest of us could not.

Ryan's spirit of "living each day to the fullest" inspires The Moyer Foundation as we help others one day at a time.

Erin Metcalf: Strength to Live Life to the Fullest

"We cannot help but feel that Erin is smiling from ear to ear as the Moyer's continue their work."

In 1998, Karen and Jamie attended a Make A Wish dinner with Cathy and Jeff 'Fassero, another Mariner pitcher. At the dinner, they met Michele and Jerry Metcalf and their 15-year-old daughter, Erin, a cancer patient from Seattle.

The Moyer's lived ups and downs with Erin, creating many fond and powerful memories. Erin gave them strength to live life to the fullest and to believe that, through strong faith, death is acceptable. Her spirit carries through Karen and Jamie both on and off the pitcher's mound.

Erin Metcalf, then a 17-year-old organ transplant recipient, inspired Karen and Jamie about life and faith and ultimately, acceptance. At a baseball game soon after Erin's passing, Jamie wrote her initials on the pitcher's mound and dedicated a game to her.

Erin was an organ transplant patient too. The Moyer Foundation has been fully committed to Life Center Northwest Organ and Tissue Awareness. Through the 1st Jamie Moyer Invitational Bowling Tournament, funds were raised for this very cause.

"Throughout Erin's illness, Karen and Jamie would call at the most critical time. They seemed to have a sixth sense when something catastrophic was happening in Erin's treatment. Each time they contacted us, we would see an immediate improvement in Erin's outlook and attitude. We do believe they contributed in a very direct way to Erin's length of life. She was given three to four months, but lived nearly two and a half years. We cannot help but feel that Erin is smiling from ear to ear as the Moyer's continue their work." Michele Metcalf. (Erin's mother)

In Erin's memory, "Camp Erin," a bereavement camp for children has been set up in Snohomish County. The Moyer Foundation hosted the 2nd Annual Jamie Moyer Invitational Bowling Tournament to fully endow this camp through Providence Hospice.

A Life's Worth of Medical Challenges Before the Age of 18

"The Aspelund's inspire The Moyer Foundation to help other families in need."

Karen and Jamie Moyer met 14-year-old North Aspelund five years ago when Jamie was asked by the Mariners to visit a patient at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. North's medical history is longer than any person should ever have in one lifetime.

Since January 2001, North and his mother, father, and sister have become great friends of the Moyer's. The Aspelund's have also become great Mariner fans since coming to Seattle from Alaska in 1996.

In November, 1992, at the age of 4 ½, North was diagnosed with A.L.L. (acute lymphocytic leukemia). North received his treatments at Children's Hospital in Seattle. Boys usually do treatments for three years or more. So for three years, the Aspelund's flew from Anchorage to Seattle so North could seek medical care.

North's treatment stopped in early 1996 as physicians hoped that North had finished chemo and that life would be normal. Unfortunately, that's not how things worked out. In July of 1996, a tumor was found in North's right groin area. The diagnosis was a relapse of his leukemia in the form of a testicular leukemic tumor. When pathology looked at the bone marrow, it too had a lot of cancer. The treatment plan was a bone marrow transplant.

He received a bone marrow transplant in November of 1996 from an un-related donor who they call their "ANGEL." North began to have some problems immediately after transplant. And, until December of 1999, he was taking up to 73 pills a day. At this time he began feeling worse and was admitted to the hospital. The diagnosis was influenza. He began treatment and, within a few days, was feeling much better. He was to be discharged from the Hospital the day before his 12th birthday (Dec 22).

However, the doctor wanted one more scan done of North's pancreas since he had problems in the past. To everyone's sadness a large mass was found on North's right kidney. He was discharged on his birthday. Two months later in February 2000, he would undergo a 5-hour surgery to remove his right kidney. The Aspelund's hope to begin to taper off some of his medicines. Until that time, they plan to make Seattle their home. The Aspelund's sold their house in Alaska, so that they could be closer to the best care possible. North continues to receive medical care at both Children's and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. The Moyer Foundation has great compassion for what the Aspelund's have gone through and continue to go through. The Moyer's try to help whenever they can. Karen and Jamie have helped make possible many happy memories including North throwing out the first pitch at a Mariners game, as well as being an honorary member of the Magnolia Little League team. And Brooke, North's sister, has her artwork in a Mariners wives cookbook. The amazing thing about the Aspelund's is that they all still have time to help The Moyer Foundation. They help with fundraisers, errands, and all sorts of tasks at the office. The Aspelund's inspire The Moyer Foundation to help other families in need, and North's sense of humor reminds us not to take life too seriously.

Art from "The Hutch Kids" Raises Funds for Helping

"They inspired us to help raise money to strike out cancer!"

Karen Moyer has spearheaded four projects with the Mariner Wives and the Hutch Kids. The Hutch School is where kids who are patients of the Hutch or related to a patient go to school away from home. Since 1996, the Hutch Kids have provided the artwork for 3 cookbooks and greeting cards, which raised close to $1 million for pediatric oncology research.

Beginning with its 2002 "What Cancer Cannot Do" calendar, The Moyer Foundation and the Hutch Kids have created an annual calendar that thousands eagerly await. Since 2002, The Moyer Foundation has presented checks to the Hutch School totaling $140,000.

Whether they are a patient, a child of a patient, or a sibling of a patient; the children at the Hutch School find care, education and support at this special school. They inspire us to help raise money to strike out cancer!