top of page
Little Boz Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions are tax-deductible.
Little Boz Foundation Activities
A Mother’s Faith, A Daughter’s Fight: Kayleana’s Story
1/14
Sparking Hope in Every Little Heart At Little BOZ Foundation, we believe every child’s story matters. Some stories are filled with joy, others with challenges, but the most powerful ones remind us what strength, love, and faith truly look like. This is Kayleana’s story. A Life Changed Overnight Deanna is a devoted mother of three: Kayleana, Kristian, and Jamere. Her children are her entire world. On September 19, 2024, just one day before Kayleana’s 8th birthday, their lives changed forever. Kayleana was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive brain cancer known as High-Grade Glioma, a grade 4 tumor. These tumors are fast growing, with very limited treatment options and a devastating prognosis. In a single moment, everything shifted. A Mother’s Sacrifice Within just two weeks of the diagnosis, Deanna made life altering decisions to fight for her daughter. She left her job. She placed all of her belongings into storage. She relocated to be closer to the hospital so Kayleana could begin six weeks of radiation treatment, Monday through Friday. Without reliable transportation and facing a two hour commute, staying was not an option. She moved to Texas alone with her three children, without family support. Her only focus was making sure Kayleana received the best care possible. A Journey Without Stability Since that moment, life has been anything but stable. Over the past year and a half, Deanna and her children have moved nine times, living between palliative care homes and hotels. Maintaining a job became nearly impossible, as Kayleana’s condition required constant attention and care. Every decision and every moment revolves around her daughter. Despite treatments and relentless effort, the cancer returned three times, each time more aggressive than before. Still, they continue to fight. Choosing Faith Through Uncertainty After considering relocating back to Iowa for family support, Deanna made another difficult decision. She stayed in Texas, believing it is where Kayleana could receive the best care. The past months have been incredibly difficult. Hospital visits, treatment setbacks, and increasing pain have become part of daily life. On January 3, 2026, Kayleana was placed on hospice care after doctors confirmed the cancer had spread to her brain and spine. Medically, there were no more options. But Deanna chose to hold on to something stronger than fear. She chose faith. Deanna’s Testimony (In Her Own Words) The following message is shared directly from Deanna: “I am a firm believer that God will not take His hands off my baby. She is a walking miracle and she will have a testimony to tell. I am committed to showing up, praying, and believing, even when the circumstances around me do not look finished. God is my source, my strength, and the reason I do not give up. Even when my prayers feel like whispers, I trust that He hears the things I do not have words for and sees the hope I refuse to let go of. I choose to let my words agree with heaven rather than my circumstances. I will not wait for proof to praise or clarity to trust. I speak life over my Kayle, peace over my process, and hope over every unanswered question. I move forward confident that God honors faith spoken out loud, trusting that what I speak in faith today will become my testimony tomorrow.” Why This Story Matters Kayleana’s story is not just about illness. It is about a mother’s unconditional love, a child’s unimaginable strength and faith that refuses to break under pressure. Families like Deanna’s are facing battles no one should have to fight alone. Their journey reflects the reality many families endure when a child is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. How You Can Help At Little BOZ Foundation, our mission is to support families like Deanna’s, emotionally, financially, and through community. You can be part of this mission. Here is how you can help; Keep Kayleana and her family in your prayers Share this story to raise awareness Support our foundation’s efforts to help families in need Together, we can continue Sparking Hope in Every Little Heart. #LittleBoz
An Update on Brian's Journey: Strength, Faith, and Continued Hope
1/2
The Little Boz Foundation is grateful to share a hopeful update about Brian and his family as they continue their courageous fight against brain cancer. Following a major surgery, doctors were able to successfully remove the entire tumor. It was a powerful moment of relief and gratitude for Brian’s family and everyone who has been praying and supporting them along the way. Brian is now continuing his treatment and is currently undergoing both radiation and chemotherapy. Despite the challenges that come with these treatments, Brian is showing incredible strength and resilience. His family shares that he is already well into his treatment process and continuing to move forward with courage each day. Through it all, the family remains grounded in faith and the support of their community. “We are still taking it one day at a time,” his mother shared. “Remaining in faith and prayerful.” There are also moments of light along the journey. The family is planning a special trip to Camp Sunshine, a place where children facing serious illnesses and their families can experience joy, connection, and time together away from hospital walls. For the Little Boz Foundation, Brian’s journey does not end with one visit or one act of kindness. Our commitment is to stand beside Brian and his family throughout this entire fight — offering support, encouragement, and reminding them that they are never alone. Brian continues to inspire everyone around him with his strength, and the Little Boz Foundation will continue walking this road with him and his family every step of the way. Please continue to keep Brian and his family in your thoughts and prayers as he moves forward in his treatment and recovery. Brian is not fighting alone. >>Sparking Hope In Every Little Heart<
On the Road with Heart: Ivado Trucking Celebrates Mely’s Legacy
1/4
In a world where business often focuses solely on numbers, Ivado Trucking stands apart. This family-owned company has always believed that their work should reflect the values that matter most: loyalty, compassion, and community. Recently, they took a meaningful step to honor the life of Mely and the mission of the Little BOZ Foundation - a symbol of love, strength, and kindness that travels across the country with every mile their trucks cover. The Story: We had the honor of placing the Little Boz Foundation logo on our trailers in memory of a beautiful life that continues to inspire love, strength, and kindness. Every mile we drive, we carry her legacy with us. What we did comes from a place of love, friendship, and family. You have been part of our lives for so many years, and Mely will always be part of our story too. Placing the Little BOZ Foundation logo on our trailers was our way of honoring her light and making sure her legacy keeps moving forward - mile after mile. Here’s a little about us and our company: We own and operate a trucking company built on hard work, loyalty, and family values. Our drivers travel across the country every day, and we’ve always believed our business should stand for more than just freight - it should stand for people. Why We Chose to Support the Foundation: Supporting the Little BOZ Foundation is personal. We’ve walked through life together for many years, and when you hurt, we hurt. Carrying Mely’s name on our trailers is our way of helping her memory continue to make an impact, raise awareness, and spread love wherever the road takes us. We believe in community, compassion, and doing what we can to make the world a little better, not just through business, but through heart. Family, support, and standing by the people we love are values we carry both in life and on the road.
Christmas Together Because of You - Support From the Little Boz Foundation
1/2
Over the holiday break, the Little Boz Foundation had the opportunity to meet David and his mom during one of the most challenging moments any family can face. David, a young child bravely undergoing treatment for brain cancer, was recently transferred to Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston to continue his care. David is the oldest of three siblings. One of his siblings is just six months old and still breastfeeding, while another is twelve years old. As David’s treatment required hospitalization away from home, his mother was faced with the heartbreaking reality of potentially being separated from her baby and other children during the holidays. It is an impossible situation no parent should ever have to endure. When David’s family reached out, the Little Boz Foundation stepped in immediately. Understanding how vital it is for families to remain together during times of crisis, the foundation arranged lodging near the hospital so the entire family could stay close to David throughout his treatment. This support allowed his mother to continue caring for her infant, ensured his siblings were nearby, and gave the family the priceless gift of being together during Christmas, a time when connection and comfort matter most. David’s mom shared how deeply grateful she was for this kindness, especially during such an emotional and uncertain time. Being able to stay together close to the hospital brought peace, relief, and strength to their family when they needed it most. This is the heart of our mission. The Little Boz Foundation exists to provide direct, immediate support to families whose children are facing life threatening illnesses. We believe no family should have to choose between medical care and being together, and no parent should feel alone while navigating the unimaginable. Our work is rooted in compassion, presence, and action. We show up when families need help the most. None of this would be possible without our donors. Your generosity allows us to step in at critical moments, remove overwhelming burdens, and offer families comfort, dignity, and togetherness during their darkest days. Because of you, David’s family was able to focus on what truly mattered most, being there for one another. Mely is smiling above, and we know she is deeply grateful for every kind heart that makes this work possible. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for standing with these families, for believing in our mission, and for helping us continue this important work. Sparking hope in every little heart. Happy Holidays, and thank you for making hope possible.
Standing With Brian During His Cancer Journey: Support From the Little Boz Foundation
1/7
Standing With Brian During His Cancer Journey: Support From the Little Boz Foundation What began as a simple headache changed everything for seven-year-old Brian and his family. Within 24 hours, a moment that seemed small and ordinary turned into a life-altering diagnosis. Normal routines, school days, and family plans were suddenly replaced with hospital visits, uncertainty, and the kind of fear no parent is ever prepared to face. Brian’s mother, Shondra, described how quickly their world shifted. “One day he just said his head hurt,” she shared. “And within a day, our lives changed.” Brian is the second youngest of six children, growing up in a close, loving home filled with energy, faith, and strong family bonds. His parents, Shondra and Brian, have always raised their children with intention and unity. But this diagnosis touched every member of the family deeply, bringing emotional and financial challenges almost immediately especially when Shondra stepped away from work to care for Brian full-time. Despite the weight of the unknown, the family has remained grounded in faith, leaning on one another with remarkable strength and love. When the Little Boz Foundation learned Brian’s story, there was no hesitation. Inspired by the life and legacy of Little Boz, the foundation exists to stand beside families whose children are facing life-threatening illnesses not only with words, but with presence, compassion, and action. This Christmas season, the Little Boz Foundation had the honor of meeting Brian and his family in person at Texas Children’s Hospital. What began as a story quickly became a moment of connection. The team met Brian, spent time with his family, and delivered Christmas gifts for all six children. Brian received a special gift of his own the Little Boz turtle mascot symbolizing strength, perseverance, and the reminder that he is not fighting alone. In the middle of hospital hallways and difficult days, there was laughter, gratitude, and genuine human connection. These moments matter. They remind families that they are seen, supported, and surrounded by care. During conversations with Shondra, the focus often returned to taking things one day at a time. “Peace makes the fight a little easier,” she shared. “We’re taking it one day at a time.” Those words reflect the reality of families walking through childhood cancer balancing fear with faith, exhaustion with hope. Brian’s diagnosis is rare, and stories like his matter. They raise awareness about symptoms that can be easy to overlook and remind families to trust their instincts. Awareness saves time, and time can save lives. By sharing Brian’s journey, the Little Boz Foundation hopes to bring comfort to families currently fighting, encouragement to those who feel alone, and understanding to those who may one day face a similar road. Brian is strong. His siblings are strong. His parents are strong. And now, they are supported by a community that believes no child should ever fight cancer alone. The Little Boz Foundation is grateful to walk beside this courageous family today, tomorrow, and every step forward. Brian is not alone. This family is not alone. And as long as the Little Boz Foundation exists, no child will ever fight alone. =Sparking Hope In Every Little Heart=
SHSU’s Julie Muñoz Awarded Inaugural IMSPIRE Mely Sehic Scholarship
By Tracy Downey HUNTSVILLE, TX— On Monday, December 1, IMSPIRE LLC CEO Megan Billnoske, a former SHSU student, presented Julie Muñoz, a first-generation Bearkat at Sam Houston State University and a member of BOLD, with IMSPIRE’s inaugural Mely Sehic $500 Scholarship. Sehic, a mentee of Billnoske and a former business major at the University of Houston, passed away on September 24 after a six-year battle with stage IV brain cancer. She was 21. After 12 years in corporate roles, Billnoske, a graduate of Advertising at Texas Tech, wanted her business to support students because it plays a big part in their journey. “I’ve had a profitable year and really didn’t want to give Chatzky Christmas presents to clients, so I decided to do something more impactful,” said Billnoske. “I think Mely exemplified everything that my company is about, so today will be about keeping her light shining.” For Billnoske, the decision involved interviewing over a dozen candidates, but when she read Muñoz’s essay, she felt confident. Once Muñoz received the news, it was a humbling experience for the first-generation junior, majoring in Human Resources Management. “It is such an honor and a privilege,” said Muñoz. “Go for any opportunity, you never know what is on the other side unless you open the door.” SHSU’s Julie Muñoz Awarded Inaugural IMSPIRE Mely Sehic Scholarship (contd) Sehic battled pineal blastoma, a rare brain cancer affecting fewer than one percent of the population. The Mely Sehic Scholarship was created to honor Sehic’s compassion, leadership, and dedication to service. Billnoske and Sehic’s family members united to inspire others while remembering her. Samir Sehic, Mely’s older brother, provided Bearkats with valuable insights on their path to the corporate world. “When you do good and put good out into the world, trust that it will come back to you.” Business Oriented Ladies of Distinction (BOLD), a new SHSU organization supporting women in business, celebrated its first annual milestone by presenting purple cords to its upcoming winter graduates and honoring Sehic’s legacy with its first scholarship recipient, Muñoz. Senior Madillyn Phillips, president of BOLD, invited Billnoske to speak last spring. That speaking engagement inspired Billnoske to reach out. “Megan reached out to me about the scholarship to see if we’d be interested,” said Phillips, who graduates in December and aims to expand BOLD through COBA — the College of Business Administration — by engaging as many students as possible. Cassidy Phillips, another BOLD member, was runner- up and received a gift card and free coaching sessions with Billnoske at IMSPIRE. The Sehic family started a non-profit called “Little Boz,” also Mely’s nickname, a foundation that helps kids and families affected by brain cancer. Mely’s love for supporting nature inspired the logo for “Little Boz,” a baby turtle, playing with a purple butterfly to spread good energy into the world through community service and helping others. "To receive energy, you have to give [and] release it," said her father, Yasmin Sehic. "It's the cycle of life." Sehic, a proud father, businessman, and immigrant from Bosnia, relocated his family to US in 1996, where Mely was born on August 12, 2004. "Mely was a true believer in protecting nature and influencing people to celebrate [life] every day," said Sehic, who passionately expressed his daughter's love for collecting toys for Texas Children's Hospital. The family attended the ceremony, helping Billnoske present the check to Muñoz while sharing stories about Mely's love for spreading positive energy. The scholarship aims to motivate future Bearkats to "put good into the world" by carrying forward Sehic's message of making a difference and ensuring Mely's legacy "inspires positive change for years to come." To learn more about Mely Sehic's journey, visit www.littleboz.org
When Neighbors Become Family: -Honoring Mely’s Legacy-
1/1
Tonight, we experienced a truly heartwarming gesture that embodies the spirit of community and compassion. Our wonderful neighbors Bill, Nancy, John, Mindy, Zack, and Megan came together to create a beautiful tribute in memory of Mely and the Little BOZ Foundation. They decorated their front yard with over a hundred festive characters and set up a special sign featuring our foundation’s logo, a turtle with angel wings and a lavender butterfly. www.littleboz.org This heartfelt gesture not only honors Mely’s legacy but also supports our mission to help children and families battling cancer. We are deeply grateful for this incredible show of support and for the love our community has shown us. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for standing with us and keeping Mely’s spirit alive. #LittleBoz #DadBoz #MomBoz #LjubiBaboSvojeCure #MelysLegacy #ForMely #InMemoryOfMely #GreatNeighbor #NeighborLove #CommunityStrong #LoveLivesHere #HumanityAtItsBest #KindnessMatters #ActsOfLove https://youtu.be/au-Rs_5gtho
Little Boz Foundation Joins MD Anderson’s 10th Anniversary Boot Walk to End Cancer®
1/6
The Little Boz Foundation proudly joined the MD Anderson Cancer Center’s 10th Anniversary Boot Walk to End Cancer®, marking our very first activity as a foundation. Our Board of Directors came together to walk side by side with survivors, families, and supporters united by one mission: to end cancer and bring hope to those who fight it every day. For us, this event carried deep meaning. It wasn’t just a walk it was a step forward in honoring the legacy of our beloved Mely (“Little Boz”), whose strength and spirit continue to inspire everything we do. Her journey taught us the importance of compassion, community, and the power of never giving up. By participating in the Boot Walk, the Little Boz Foundation proudly stood with 11 thousands of others committed to fighting cancer and supporting families through their hardest battles. This was just the beginning of our mission to bring hope, love, and practical support to families and children facing cancer around the world. The official number for today’s event was over $2 million raised, which is incredible, and we were very proud to be a part of it. We are grateful to everyone who joined, cheered, and supported us along the way. Together, we walk for Mely, for every child, and for every family touched by cancer and we will keep walking until no one has to fight this battle alone. #LittleBoz
bottom of page