Hannah Soderstrom
FOUNDER
Hi, my name is Hannah Soderstrom and I am the founder of Even Mermaids Get Leukemia, Inc. In 2016 I was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and through my journey I have learned that *doing every day task * while on chemo is not as easy as it looks. Missing out on some monumental moments for a kid (like my entire last year of middle school and the first day of high school) inspired me to not take my childhood for granted. During the final year of my chemo I started feeling better so I thought it was time to make memories and become my old self again, however it wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. My body just wasn't ready for the new change. Now knowing I had to wait until chemo was finished to become socially active again I started thinking about all the fighters just like me. I have met many kids with cancer and I think about all the things they are missing as well. That's when I thought of my nonprofit idea.
Scott Soderstrom
Co-FOUNDER
My name is Scott Soderstrom, I am a co-founder of Even Mermaids Get Leukemia. This non-profit has a special place in my heart as it is the culmination of our family’s charitable contrivance. My daughter, Hannah, battled and won a two and a half year fight with Acute Lymphoblasitc Leukemia. During the time my wife Heather, my son Sam and myself, fought right along with her. After her battle, Hannah knew she wanted to find a way to help anyone else that succeeded in their battles with cancer knowing getting back to normalcy is a very difficult task to do. Knowing the importance, we all agreed to participate in whatever plan we could develop to improve the lives of those that had to follow a similar path to Hannah. We all look forward to the opportunity to help kids that have fought cancer and also to raise as much awareness as to these battles as possible. Ultimately a cure would be a goal of all of ours. However until then Even Mermaids Gt Leukemia can be one more shining light for those that have been fighting such a dark disease.
Heather Soderstrom
Co-FOUNDER
Hi my name is Heather Soderstrom, I am a co-founder of Even Mermaids Get Leukemia and also Hannah’s momager. For thirteen years Hannah was an independent burst of energy. Then like a bad dream, cancer tried to steal her thunder. Her body grew weak, her spunkiness soften and for the first time I saw Hannah question herself. However throughout the treatment process I could see that spark in her and I knew she would grow stronger in her fight. Even Mermaids Get Leukemia was Hannah’s idea and the rest of her family joined in her mission. As Hannah knows, getting back to “normal” whatever that may man to a kid is hard after chemo. Heck, I imagine it would be difficult for anyone. We watched first hand as Hannah tried to get involved with things again… Her mind was one hundred percent ready but her body was not quite there. This non-profit was developed to help get survivors like Hannah a resource to get back into the hobbies they loved before or to try something new he/she dreamed of while on treatment. As a family we want to help kids that have fought cancer know that being a kid is suppose to be fun. Cancer was just one chapter in your incredible story.
Sam Soderstrom
Co-Founder
My name is Sam Soderstrom and I am a co-founder of Even Mermaids Get Leukemia. For two years I had to watch my sister, Hannah Soderstrom, fight a disease that was very hard on her physically and mentally. My sister has always been a very optimistic person, however seeing her at her weakest broke my family and I. When Hannah finished treatment I was excited to see her thrive again but it wasn’t as easy as I had hoped it would for her. Hannah was still weak from her treatment and had to take things slow even though she wanted to participate in everything she could. Even though transitioning back into normal life was hard for my sister she stayed strong and followed what she thought was best. Hannah knew she wasn’t the only childhood cancer survivor that had a difficult time becoming a kid again so that’s when she came to our family with the idea of starting this nonprofit. We all agreed that we wanted to help her in her dream. Seeing how much Even Mermaids Get Leukemia has grown gives me great joy that we are able to help kids like her.
