Noah’s Story
FIGHT LIKE NOAH!
You never know how strong you are until STRONG is the only choice you have.
How it began.
In 2020, Noah Adams was a normal 17 year old about to embark on his senior year of high school. In the middle of the pandemic, Noah decided to teach himself how to skateboard. Noah would leave at the same time every evening to make sure to catch the sunset. He LOVES sunsets. In May, he injured himself while skateboarding and came home to tell his mom. Noah’s mom waved it off as a trivial lesson that boys often learn when trying new things. In June 2020, Noah fell down again and this time insisted his mom take him to the doctor. After seeing their general practitioner, Noah was referred to a Sports Medicine physician. The Sports Medicine physician wanted to be thorough so she ordered a MRI.
The Diagnosis.
On July 2, 2020 Noah returned to the clinic for the results of the MRI. This is the day our whole world changed. Noah was diagnosed with cancer. The doctor was already prepared and had scheduled an appointment with an Orthopedic Surgeon and Pediatric Oncologist. After a biopsy, it was determined on July 9, 2020 the type of cancer Noah had was Ewing’s Sarcoma (a rare bone cancer). Once discovered, the tumor began to makes its presence known. In just a week or so after diagnosis, Noah would need a cane and wheelchair to get around. The pain was just too great.
The Fight.
After meeting with the very large team of health professionals who would assist Noah in fighting the cancer, a plan was put in place. On Friday, July 24, 2020, Noah began a very aggressive 10 month chemotherapy course. He would undergo chemotherapy treatments for 6 and 2 days alternating every two weeks for 3 months and then have surgery to remove his tumor. On October 21, 2020 Noah underwent Rotationplasty surgery to remove the cancerous tumor. This made Noah an amputee at the age of 17 years old. He had a small set back, requiring another surgery on November 6, 2020 and then restarted the aggressive chemotherapy regiment in mid-November. Noah continued to receive chemotherapy every 2 weeks for another 5 months. He would finish just in time for graduation with a clean bill of health on April 30, 2021.
Finding Light during Darkness.
From the day Noah was diagnosed, he received outpouring love from his high school, Central Catholic High School and its community in San Antonio, Texas . The Sunday before his biopsy a support parade was organized and the #NoahStrong movement was born.
Early on in Noah’s diagnosis, he chose to fight this battle with positivity. He just kept moving forward with grace, dignity, and a smile on his face. Noah decided to never let Cancer define who he was or dictate the way he would live his life.
With Noah’s audience, the #NoahStrong Facebook page was created, and in a very short time had hundreds of followers. But Noah did not want the focus on himself. He wanted to focus on the other kids in the hospital, whom he had seen during his stays. It sometimes seemed as they were so alone and disconnected from the daily activities other children their age would be participating in. Noah wanted to bridge that connection and give some normalcy back to these warriors.
And just days before his life changing surgery, Noah began a Halloween costume drive for the patients of University Hospital, San Antonio, Texas…which serves much of local and South Texas. Without even knowing at the time, this would be the inception of today’s Stay Strong Foundation,Inc.
With a goal of 100 Halloween costumes for the hospital through Noah’s outreach to family, friends, classmates and local citizens of San Antonio through word of mouth, and supportive online communities Noah was able to donate over 300 costumes. Noah was so moved by so many joining him in helping with the Halloween project and hearing the wonderful stories of how the 100s of pediatric patients were impacted from the pediatric nurses, doctors and Child-Life staff Noah knew there was no question but to make the Christmas holidays even more joyful and wonderful for the children who would be inpatient during that time. So he created the NoahStrong Toy Drive 2020. Even though Noah was dealing with his own chemotherapy, and a new amputation at this time, Noah was passionate about children in the same fight for their lives. The local news stations began to reach out to Noah to support his drives. Noah continued working with his growing online community and was able to donate over 1200 gifts to the pediatric patients at University Hospital, San Antonio. Noah wanted each child to have more than one gift each, to make it feel more like Christmas, through the outpouring support of the community, he was able to do that. It was uplifting as well, to the medical professionals tending to the care of these children during their challenging times, including the children’s families, their friends, classmates and even Noah. In less than a year, Noah started a support movement for pediatric patients in which he is continuing through today’s Stay Strong Foundation.
The 1st Battle WON.
The MISSION Continues.
On April 30, 2021, Noah received his last dose of chemo. A couple of weeks later, Noah was given the news that he was NED (No Evidence of Disease) and he rang the bell signifying the end of his chemotherapy treatment.
After graduating from high school and being accepted to his top-choice college, the University of Pittsburgh, Noah chose to take the support and love he had received and pour it back into other pediatric warriors and their families.
With his mom by his side, he helped create Stay Strong Foundation, Inc. What began as a Halloween costume drive and toy drive has grown into a nonprofit that walks alongside families facing the hardest chapters of their lives.
How Stay Strong Foundation has grown
Since those early days, Stay Strong Foundation has expanded from two holiday drives into a year-round mission of support, comfort, and hope for pediatric patients and their families. Today, our core programs include:
I.C.O.N. Shirts (In Care Of Noah) – Port-access shirts and adapted clothing that allow kids to stay warm, covered, and comfortable during chemo and treatment. What began as a local effort has now reached hundreds of children across all 50 states and multiple countries through customized shirts and modified onesies and sleepers.
Stay Strong Halloween Costume Drive – Providing costumes so kids can celebrate Halloween in-hospital and still feel like kids.
Stay Strong Merry Christmas & Santa’s Workshop – Our signature holiday toy drive and in-hospital “shopping” experience, giving families the chance to choose gifts for their children at no cost.
Wrapped in Love Blanket Drive – Collecting cozy blankets for pediatric patients and their families so they can feel warmth and comfort during long hospital stays.
Thanksgiving Meals & Adopt-a-Family – Holiday support for families spending the season in the hospital or facing financial strain due to treatment.
Kicks 4 Kids Kickball Tournament & KC Fest – Community events that raise awareness and funds while giving families, survivors, and supporters a way to come together, play, and celebrate life.
Purses with Purpose: Bingo for a Cause – A purse bingo fundraiser where every game and every purse helps us continue serving pediatric warriors and their families.
And we’re not done yet. Stay Strong Foundation is actively working toward:
Scholarships for childhood cancer survivors and siblings
Birthday surprises for nominated pediatric patients
Additional programs that continue to meet families where they are — in the hospital, at home, and in survivorship
Where Noah is now
Today, Noah is a cancer survivor, an amputee, and a powerful voice for resilience and hope. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh and continues to pour his heart into:
Motivational speaking at schools, community events, and organizations
Emceeing fundraisers and nonprofit events
Organizing and attending Stay Strong Foundation programs
Using his story to remind others that even in the hardest seasons, there is still light, purpose, and joy to be found
Noah never wanted his story to be just about cancer — he wanted it to be about what you do with the life you have after the diagnosis, the surgery, and the last chemo. Stay Strong Foundation is his way of making sure other kids and families feel seen, supported, and loved through their own battles.
How you can help
Stay Strong Foundation is 100% volunteer-driven. Every shirt, blanket, costume, toy, and meal happens because people like you choose to get involved.
We are always looking for:
Volunteers (individuals, families, schools, teams, and businesses)
Event sponsors and community partners
In-kind donations and financial contributions
If you or your organization would like to help, please reach out through our Contact Us page. Service hours are gladly provided for students and groups.
Together, we can help pediatric warriors and their families stay strong— one shirt, one blanket, one costume, one act of kindness at a time.