5-year-old Weston Newswanger was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcomawith, a rare form of cancer that develops in soft tissue and spreads quickly, in 2016. After receiving treatment at Penn State Children’s Hospital, Newswanger is now cancer-free. He’s also making headlines because he recently donated 3,000 toys to the very hospital where he fought for his life.
Newswanger’s mom asked him what he wanted for his fifth birthday. His response? “I don’t want anything. I don’t need anything,” his mom, Amy, told CNN. Instead, they decided to make a donation.
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Little Weston himself is responsible for the idea of donating toys to the hospital where he received treatment. His family worked for weeks, asking friends, family, and social media contacts for donations.
All told, the Newswangers were able to secure approximately 3,000 toys to donate to Penn State Children’s Hospital.
“We got 1,263 containers of Play-Doh… 71 superheroes… and then 1,249 dinosaurs,” Amy Newswanger told CNN. “And a bunch of miscellaneous items we didn’t even add up.”
Amy also CNN that these particular toys, especially the Play-Doh, were important to her son when he was battling cancer.
Forgive us; it’s raining on our faces a bit…
Amy also added that the donation to that hospital was especially important to her and Weston. “We were there just as much if not more than our own house. The people at the hospital became our family.”
We’re so proud of Weston Newswanger and his family! What an incredible thing for a 5-year-old to do! And to think this was his idea! A little hero if ever there were one,