Our Story

Anya’s Mission began with a little girl whose heart was full of love—for her family, for friends, for laughter, and also for animals.

Anya was diagnosed with cancer at the age of seven. In an instant, our lives changed. What followed was a year of hospital visits, treatments, travel, and hope. We went wherever hope could be found—Boston, Washington D.C., Pittsburgh, and six long weeks of daily radiation in Buffalo.

Anya fought bravely. She endured more than any child ever should. And as her parents, we walked beside her through every moment—loving her, protecting her, and carrying the weight of watching our daughter suffer in ways no family should ever have to witness.

Through it all, Anya remained Anya.

She was still silly. Still loving. Still full of warmth. Friends and family gathered around her—not just to support us, but because being near Anya was a gift. Her laughter, even in the hardest moments, reminded us of who she was.

As the disease progressed, Anya began to struggle with speech. Communicating became difficult, even when she had so much inside her heart. One day, while attending third grade remotely during treatment, her teacher asked the class what they hoped to be when they grew up. Anya couldn’t answer at the time.

Later that day, sitting quietly near her mom, Anya spoke with certainty:

“Mommy, I know what I want to be. I want to be a veterinarian.”

That moment changed everything.

Anya passed away at the age of eight. Our family is no longer whole. A brother misses his sister every day. A mother and father carry a grief that never truly leaves.

But Anya’s love did not leave with her.

She loved animals deeply. She believed they deserved gentleness, care, and protection. And in that simple, beautiful dream—to become a veterinarian—she showed us the path forward.

Anya’s Mission was created to honor that dream.

Through support of wildlife sanctuaries, farm sanctuaries, animal rescue efforts, and providing scholarships for students pursuing veterinary studies, we carry Anya’s love into the world. Every animal helped, every student supported, every act of kindness done in her name is a continuation of Anya’s story.

This mission is not about moving on.
It is about carrying forward.

For Anya.
For the creatures she loved.
For the future she imagined.