Hearts For Hads

It is with deeply emotional hearts that we approach family, friends, loved ones, and our community to rally around the Kemmenoe family in their time of need.

On August 14, 2024 Matt and Jess Kemmenoe rushed their 5 year old daughter Hadley to Boston's Children's Hospital after a sick visit to the pediatrician. What they thought were respiratory symptoms became an unimaginable nightmare when a chest x-ray showed a mass pressing on her heart. The next 48 hours included a whirlwind admission to the ICU, many tests and procedures, and the devastating final diagnosis of T cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). Unfortunately, Hadley will need to be inpatient on the oncology floor at Children's for the next five weeks, followed by a year of outpatient treatment.

As many of you know, treatment for ALL is a long and challenging road. Our goal right now is to provide the Kemmenoe’s with the ability to focus exclusively on Hadley and their family, not on the financial burden that comes along with such a catastrophic diagnosis. We hope to provide the family with personal comforts such as a hotel room for a proper shower and rest, DoorDash cards for meals, help with their two handsome bulldogs, and of course lots of love and comfort for our Hads and her big sister Cameron.

If you know Hadley then you're picturing her cheeky little baby pearl smile, the sparkle in her massive blue eyes, and the way the sunshine glitters through her white blond hair. You know she’s demanding a custom Taylor Swift playlist from Jess, or curled up on Matt’s lap after a long day of play. Hadley loves Bluey, coloring (especially hearts and rainbows), being outside, and her pups Ronald and Truman. Hadley was so excited to start kindergarten this fall, and walk up with the neighborhood big kids. It feels completely unfair that this milestone was taken from her.

To quote Matt, "We dont know why this happened to us. However, we need to face it, and know that this is our journey now." Our hearts ache for the Kemmenoes and of course our sweet Hads.

Please help us rally around this beautiful little girl and her family, and wrap them with our love and support. In addition to donations, we are also collecting "Hearts for Hads," rocks painted with hearts, sweet messages, and words of encouragement. We hope to line the Kemmenoe’s driveway to surprise Hads when she returns home. Additionally, any funds that remain unused by the Kemmenoes will be donation to the Boston Children's Hospital child life/development department.

With love and gratitude,

Jess Rae, Lauren Blatt Owen and Francesca Rovello