Calvin’s Courage: Help Calvin Fight Lymphoma

Josh and Elizabeth (Becker) Smith’s son, Calvin Smith, is fighting a battle that no child should have to fight – the fight against cancer.

Calvin is 4 years old and was diagnosed with a rare form of lymphoma in January 2024. We have launched this GoFundMe campaign to ease the financial burden on Calvin’s family during this difficult time. Your contribution will support Calvin and his family while they fight this disease together, as well as any challenges Calvin may face long-term.

About Calvin:

Calvin is a sweet little boy who is silly and playful! He loves playing with his family, friends, and especially with his 2-year-old sister.

Calvin loves Spider-Man and has already outgrown 2 costumes – one that he continues to squeeze into, and one that he lets his little sister wear. He has worn out furniture from practicing his Spider-Man moves, and has enough energy to jump on a trampoline for hours.

Calvin adores his little sister and is always quick to make sure she has what she needs. He also enjoys ‘boy time’ with dad and cooking quiche with his mom.

Calvin’s Diagnosis:

Calvin’s parents, Josh and Elizabeth, would like to share more about the road to his diagnosis -

“A few weeks ago, Calvin started mentioning his tummy hurt. The pain seemed brief and normal at first. But, as days went by, he wasn’t eating as much, going to the bathroom as often, and he seemed quieter. His doctor thought it was constipation, but after a week or so of treating that, Calvin wasn’t getting any better. In fact, he seemed to get worse.

Another trip to the doctor, and one to the ER, resulted in recommendations to continue the treatment for constipation. A few more days went by. Calvin spent the majority of those days on the couch, not eating much, and his tummy still hurt. When we saw him curled up on the floor in the fetal position, crying out in pain, Elizabeth took him back to the ER at Children’s Mercy Hospital. There, two MRIs and an X-ray of his abdomen revealed nothing. However, the CT scan revealed a mass between his liver and right kidney, near the back of his stomach. That was the night of January 22nd, his mom’s birthday.

A biopsy was done on the mass the next day, and Calvin was soon diagnosed with Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALK positive). He has been in the hospital since January 22nd. Chemotherapy is expected to be done in 6 stages over the next 6 months.”

Thank you for taking time to read Calvin’s story – please share with your network and check back for updates about Calvin’s progress here.

Thank you again for supporting courageous little Calvin! #CalvinStrong