How one childhood cancer survivor overcame embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, found a forever family through adoption, and continues to inspire everyone he meets.
A Childhood Cancer Journey That Began in India
When people ask me about Benny, the first word that comes to mind is brave.
Benny is one of the bravest children I know. In just 10 years, he has faced challenges that most adults could never imagine, yet he continues to meet every obstacle with a smile, a joke, and a determination that inspires everyone around him.
Benny was born in India and spent his early years in an orphanage. When he was 3 years old, a caretaker noticed he was experiencing urinary symptoms and sought medical attention. After months of testing, doctors discovered a lesion in his bladder. A biopsy confirmed the diagnosis: embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare type of childhood cancer that develops in soft tissue.
At such a young age, Benny underwent approximately 16 weeks of chemotherapy followed by radiation therapy. Thanks to the care he received and advances in pediatric cancer treatment, Benny entered remission and began his journey as a childhood cancer survivor.
Five Years Cancer-Free: Benny’s Cancer Survivorship Milestone
After treatment, Benny continued routine monitoring to ensure the cancer had not returned. In 2025, he reached an incredible milestone: five years cancer-free.
Today, Benny is part of the survivorship program at Cleveland Clinic, where he receives annual follow-up care. While he remains cancer-free, survivorship comes with its own challenges. Benny continues to manage long-term effects from treatment, including gastrointestinal and bladder complications, and recently began growth hormone therapy to help him catch up physically with his peers.
Despite the many appointments, scans, and tests, Benny faces every challenge with positivity and courage.
How Adoption Led Us to Benny
My husband and I had always talked about adoption, but it wasn’t how we imagined starting our family. Our faith in the Lord has always guided the decisions we make, and we prayed that He would lead us as we built our family.
Everything changed after we watched the movie Lion. There is a scene where the adopted son apologizes to his mother for not being her biological child. She replies, “We could have had children of our own. We chose you.”
That moment stayed with us. We truly felt God using that story to pull on our hearts and call us to adoption.
Our journey first led us to our son Samuel in 2019. A few years later, we again felt God calling us to adopt.
During a conversation with our social worker, my husband asked whether we could consider a child with a history of cancer. The social worker explained that it was rare, but she would keep us in mind.
Just one week later, she called.
“A child has become available who is in remission from cancer,” she said. “I immediately thought of your family.”
That child was Benny.
In October 2022, Benny left the only home he had ever known and moved to the United States to join our family. Looking back, we can clearly see God’s hand in every step that led him to us.
Adjusting to a New Life with Remarkable Resilience
Moving to a new country, joining a new family, and learning a new language would be overwhelming for most children.
Not for Benny.
Within just a few months, he learned English and adapted to life in the United States with remarkable resilience. He quickly made friends, excelled in school, and filled our home with laughter through his unique sense of humor.
Anyone who meets Benny remembers him.
His brother Samuel calls him “famous” at school, and his teachers jokingly refer to him as the “Mayor of Bay Village.”
Though small for his age, Benny has a larger-than-life personality. He is kind, empathetic, and friendly to everyone he meets.
Life After Childhood Cancer
Being a pediatric cancer survivor is only one part of Benny’s story.
He loves playing baseball, flag football, and soccer. He enjoys riding his bike, spending time with friends, and exploring electronics. If it has batteries and buttons, Benny wants to figure out how it works.
He also has big dreams.
When asked what he wants to be when he grows up, Benny doesn’t hesitate: a police officer.
His courage continues to inspire those around him. When his cousin Jaeden shaved his head in Benny’s honor, we asked how it made him feel.
His answer was simple:
“It made me feel awesome and proud.”
Why Childhood Cancer Research Matters
Benny’s story is a powerful reminder of why childhood cancer research is so important.
Because of advances in pediatric cancer treatment and the dedication of researchers around the world, more children are surviving cancer than ever before. Yet many childhood cancers still lack effective treatments, and survivors often face lifelong health challenges related to their treatment.
Children like Benny are living proof that research saves lives.
Today, Benny is thriving as a cancer survivor, loving brother, loyal friend, athlete, future police officer, and joyful member of our family. His story is one of resilience, hope, and the life-changing impact of childhood cancer research.
Every day, I am grateful that Benny calls me Mom.
