Noah’s Story
Noah was our superhero long before cancer entered his life.
He was joyful, curious, and full of heart. A kid who loved video games, action figures, and a good battle between good and evil. He dreamt of being a police officer when he grew up, like his dad.
This is the story of Noah’s fight, and the legacy that continues in his name.
Before the Diagnosis
Before his diagnosis, Noah was a typical three-year-old: playful, imaginative, and full of personality. He loved being goofy with his older brother Kyle, and had a way of drawing people in with his quiet confidence and humor.
In early 2021, small signs began to appear. Noah mentioned belly pain at preschool. Then one evening after bath time, he cried out in pain—something that immediately felt different. Thinking it might be a urinary tract infection, we took him to urgent care, expecting something simple.
We were wrong.
The Diagnosis
At urgent care, Noah had a fever, but tests didn’t point to an infection. We were advised to take him to a children’s hospital for further evaluation. At the ER, Noah pointed to pain in his lower right abdomen. Doctors began working him up for appendicitis.
Blood was drawn. An ultrasound followed. Then a CT scan.
On April 1, 2021, our world shifted forever. At just three years old, Noah was diagnosed with high-risk neuroblastoma.
Noah’s Fight
From that moment on, life became a series of treatments, hospital stays, and decisions no family is ever prepared to make. Noah’s journey included chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant, radiation, immunotherapy, multiple surgeries, and experimental therapies.
Some days felt like progress. Others felt impossible. We learned to live in hospital rooms, to celebrate small wins, and to hold onto hope even when the odds shifted.
There were moments when we believed remission was within reach. And then there were relapses, each one forcing us to reset, regroup, and keep going.
Through it all, we followed the same guiding belief: Noah deserved every possible chance.
Seeking Care, Wherever it took us
To give Noah access to the best care possible, we traveled wherever hope led us.
Over the years, Noah received treatment and second opinions at pediatric cancer centers across the country, including:
Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital
Seattle Children’s Hospital
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Penn State Medical Center
Each trip meant time away from home, long stretches in unfamiliar places, and significant emotional and financial strain. But none of that mattered more than giving Noah the best chance we could.
Who Noah Was
Despite everything he endured, Noah never complained or resisted treatment. Hospital life simply became part of his world, and he made the most of it.
Noah dreamt of being a police officer like his dad. As he faced cancer, first responders became his heroes—visiting him, cheering him on, showing up when it mattered.
Over time, something shifted. Noah became their hero.
He found joy in video games during long hospital stays, fully immersing himself and bringing smiles to doctors and nurses along the way. Noah loved fighting battles, whether in a game, with his superhero action figures, or in real life.
A Courageous Goodbye
As Noah prepared for a CAR-T clinical trial, he developed pneumonia, leading to severe complications.
For a moment, it seemed like he
might turn a corner.
For a moment, we thought he
could stabilize.
But his body had already endured so much, and we could see he was tired.
Surrounded by love, we made the most heartbreaking decision of our lives to let Noah go peacefully.
Noah passed away on October 18, 2024
at the age of 6.
Noah’s Legacy
Noah’s story did not end with his passing. His courage, resilience, and joy continue to shape the lives he touched and the work we carry forward in his name.
In the months after we lost Noah, we faced a choice: let grief consume us, or channel it into something that honored him. We chose the latter.
We created the Noah Lee Legacy Foundation so other families facing childhood cancer wouldn’t have to walk this road alone, especially when care requires traveling far from home.
This foundation was born from a mother’s love, a family’s grief, and a promise to keep showing up for Noah, and for every child who deserves a fighting chance.
“Noah taught us to be brave, taught us joy, taught us to never give up. We know what we’re doing matters, and Noah reminds us why we fight.”
Our Founder, Grace Lee
Hi, I’m Grace Lee, proud mom to Noah and Kyle and founder of the Noah Lee Legacy Foundation. While our About section shares Noah’s brave story, I wanted to personally thank you for being here. Building this foundation has been my way of turning heartbreak into hope by supporting families who must travel for treatment, raising awareness, and creating events like Noah’s 5K Duck Dash to rally community and funding.
Leading this work is personal for me. I’ve been in the hospital rooms, navigated travel for care, and felt the weight that families carry. Today, I use that experience to guide our programs, partnerships, and events so other families feel less alone.
Thank you for walking alongside us. Your support honors Noah’s courageous spirit and helps bring comfort and real help to families fighting childhood cancer.
“God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all.”
Learn how you can get involved → Get Involved or Donate
Join us at the next Noah’s 5K Duck Dash → Go Gold