Jonathan Powell was born to Melissa and Tim Powell on March 16, 1998. Jonathan has always been a healthy, fun-loving, full of life child. He is truly a blessing to all those who know him. On May 15, 2000, Jonathan was hospitalized for an elevated white blood cell count and fever. The next day our world collapsed. A large tumor the size of a small soccer ball was found in his abdomen area by ultrasound and x-ray. On May 18th he had surgery to remove the tumor and his left kidney. Following many tests, including a bone marrow aspiration, CT-scan, bone density scan, MRI and MIBG scans, two small spots were found on his knees; therefore he was diagnosed with Stage IV Neuroblastoma.

He had finished seven rounds of chemotherapy at Brenner Children's Hospital in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He completed 16 rounds of radiation. On January 18, 2001, Jon underwent his Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplant at Duke University. In April 2001, Jon was enrolled in a Phase II Clinical Trial of 3F8 Monoclonal Antibodies at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City and completed three rounds. In February 2002 he completed his one year follow-up studies at Duke University Medical Center. After suffering a seizure in May and undergoing many tests, a small tumor was removed from the right side of his brain...Neuroblastoma.

In August 2002, Jon completed 18 round of cranial radiation at Duke University. The following month Jon underwent a complete series of tests which yielded NO EVIDENCE OF DISEASE. On October 16, 2002, after Jonathan had a stiff neck for a week or so, an MRI showed massive tumor wrapped around his complete spinal cord. He started radiation the next day and then on Saturday, October 19th, Jonathan lost his battle with Neuroblastoma.