Smasherson’s programs are designed to bring comfort, encouragement, and meaningful support to children and families facing pediatric brain cancer, while continuing to invest in what comes next.

Rooted in real experiences, these programs meet families where they are and provide support in the moments that matter most.

Smasherson Programs

Radiation Countdown Calendars

One of the most meaningful gifts Emerson received during treatment was a Radiation Countdown Calendar, a series of small, curated gifts opened after each radiation session.
It gave her something to look forward to, helped her track her progress, and made long, difficult days feel a little lighter.

Today, Smasherson creates personalized Radiation Countdown Calendars for children in treatment, designed around their interests, favorite things, and what brings them joy. More than 400 calendars have been delivered to date.

Doctors and nurses often share that the calendar can be the one thing that gets a child into treatment. What began with Emerson has revealed a need no one knew existed, creating moments of anticipation, comfort, and connection in the middle of something incredibly hard.

Hospital setting with a decorated advent calendar made of wrapped gifts on a wheeled hospital bed, numbered cards from 1 to 12 hanging on a black board, medical equipment on the walls, and chairs near curtains.

A young girl with shoulder-length brown hair smiling while holding colorful birthday goodie bags, sitting on the floor near a row of fabric bags with purple handwriting numbered 6 to 12 hanging on a wall in a room with wooden flooring, white walls, and visible kitchen and dining area in the background.

Piggy’s Brave Bundle

Before radiation treatment begins, every child goes through a simulation appointment.
During this visit, children are fitted for the mask they'll wear during treatment, and doctors
map the area that will receive radiation.

For many families, this is one of the most emotional days of the entire journey.
For us, it was second only to hearing the words, "Your child has cancer."

The simulation appointment was a painful reminder that this wasn't a bad dream. It was real. It caught us completely off guard, and to this day remains one of the hardest memories from our time in treatment.

That's why we created Piggy's Brave Bundle.

A young boy with short hair sleeping on a bed, hugging a plush toy with brown, pink, and blue colors. The bed has a multicolored blanket with yellow, blue, and red sections.

A man and a young boy sitting on a couch. The man is smiling and wearing a gray cap and black shirt. The boy has a medical tube in his nose, is dressed in a blue shirt, and is covered with a colorful blanket. There are clothes and a red item on the couch behind them.

A young girl with short hair and a big smile, holding a colorful plush unicorn pillow, sitting on a bench at a hospital, wearing a white shirt, a lanyard, and a watch.

When a family enters the simulation room, they receive a Smasherson tote filled with thoughtful items to bring comfort, connection, and a little more humanity to the journey ahead.

Each bundle includes a journal, an instant photo printer, photo paper, and other tools
that give families space to capture the joy and the heartbreak, the milestones and the setbacks.

A young child with a shaved head sitting in a hospital bed, smiling and pointing to her cheeks, surrounded by medical equipment and toys. A healthcare worker wearing a mask and gloves is assisting her.

A large medical imaging machine, likely an MRI or CT scanner, with a display screen and several colorful cards and gift bags with children's drawings and messages placed in front of it.

A woman and a young boy in a hospital room looking at a tablet. The woman is sitting in a hospital bed holding the boy, who is wrapped in a hospital blanket and wearing a hospital gown. Hospital equipment is visible in the background.

We encourage parents to tell their story in words and pictures, preserving moments they may
one day want to remember, reflect on, or share.

Most importantly, Piggy's Brave Bundle is a reminder that they are not walking this road alone.

There are people they have never met cheering for them, thinking about them,
and standing beside them every step of the way.

A young child with a bald head sitting on a hospital bed, looking at a red bag. The child is wearing a blue shirt that says "Toddler" and gray pants. There are toys near the child and medical equipment on the wall behind, indicating a hospital or clinic setting.