Callahan “Callie” Hope Roberts was just a couple weeks shy of her 23rd birthday in the spring of 2025, working 12 hour shifts at her first “big girl job” as a Behavioral Health Tech when vision issues signaled that things were about to take a dramatic turn. There was an emergency eye appointment, followed by inconclusive MRIs, and countless tests that all seemed to point to an autoimmune disorder yet none were found. Instead a radioactive MRI found the tumor on her brainstem that would eventually be diagnosed as DIPG. Treatment started right away to buy her precious time. She was gone exactly a year later, never seeing her 24th birthday. Instead a Celebration of Life was held that day to honor the life of a beautiful spirit taken much too soon.

But Callie was so much more than her diagnosis. She was an eye-rolling daughter, a teasing big sister, a new puppy mom, a spoiled granddaughter, a wonderful friend (her mom’s best friend), and just a special human. She loved to shop, do her nails, spend time at the beach, binge watch her favorite shows, and have movie nights or nights out with her girls. She loved her new job. She loved her family. She loved her puppy. She loved her friends. She loved to have fun.  She was fun. She had a killer sense of humor, a great laugh, and a smile that lit up a room. On the inside, she struggled with anxiety and depression for years, but she never let it stop her. She didn’t let cancer stop her either. She battled through her fears and the physical limitations caused by the disease with courage, humor, and incredible grace and fortitude. Right up until she lost the ability to speak, she told her mother, “We’ve got this.”  

A lot of living and loving was done in that last year. Trips were taken. Time was spent. Memories were made. The promise was kept to laugh every day. But for those of us who were left behind, it wasn’t nearly enough time. Callie’s light will continue to shine. Those who love her will make sure of it.  We promise, Callie. “We’ve got this.”

Thank you for choosing to donate to The Cure Starts Now Foundation. 100% of this donation, after credit card processing fees, goes directly towards research to find the homerun cure for cancer starting with pediatric brain cancer research.

If you would like to make a donation by mail please send a check to:  The Cure Starts Now Foundation; 10280 Chester Road; Cincinnati, OH 45215 and put the child's name in the memo.

The family receives notification of all donations made to this tribute fund automatically. Thank you again for giving.  The cure starts with you…The Cure Starts NOW!