With 'Faith Over Fear', Local Business Creates Gift Boxes To Uplift Families In Pediatric Cancer Fights

NEW LENOX, IL — Two local women, moved by the loss endured by a New Lenox family, are using their business to uplift families in pediatric cancer battles.

For the month of September, Compassion Packed Gift Co.—a business that offers curated gift boxes designed around specific life moments—will channel their efforts toward creating boxes supporting families navigating pediatric cancer.

Founders Kelly Hickey, of New Lenox, and Katelyn Walker, of Frankfort, will partner with Cal's Angels to create and donate boxes for current patients and families at Advocate Children's Hospital. The women were compelled by the loss felt by longtime friend Rachel Perry, whose 2-year-old daughter died in 2022 following a fight with leukemia.

"I am fortunate enough that I, outside of Faith, have not been touched by pediatric cancer," said Hickey. "Unfortunately, a lot of people don't pay attention to things that aren't impacting them. With September coming up, we decided that for our next box, let's create something that can support children and families navigating childhood cancer."

Hickey and Walker—who first met as teachers in Orland Park—launched their company in October 2024. They leaned on each other through life experiences—finding comfort and sharing joy—and felt inspired to create a way of providing the same support and compassion that had pulled each of them through so much. Compassion Packed offers boxes built around experiences including new baby and parents, caregiver support, sympathy and loss, get well, chemo support, adoption, new home and holiday collections.

This one—named Faith Over Fear, after the Perry's family own Faith—is filled with items meant to support the littlest patients enduring cancer, and the families fighting alongside them. Specifically, they looked to Perry for insight into what helped her through time spent in the hospital with Faith.

"When it came to selecting items for this gift box, we turned to the Perry Family for guidance," their website reads. "While many incredible organizations like Cal's Angels often donate care and comfort essentials for families navigating childhood cancer, The Perry's wanted to design a gift that could be light and uplifting during an otherwise dark time," the company's website reads. "This is how the 'Faith Over Fear' box was thoughtfully curated offering the same joy and light that Faith gifted to this world."

Hickey and Walker are hoping the community will feel inspired to contribute to their effort.

"This is Compassion Packed using our platform to ask the community to come together and support all families affected by pediatric cancer," Hickey said. "We wanted to ask people to come together and donate towards a box or sponsor an entire box."

Now and throughout September, they are collecting donations/sponsorships towards the Faith Over Fear gift boxes for gifting to oncology patients. All proceeds of these donations will go directly towards supporting children currently fighting childhood cancer. Those interested can select a monetary amount to donate towards a box or sponsor the full cost of one child's box at $40.

The items in the box will include kids affirmation cards, a linen notebook, Stellar braided pretzels, Sweeter Cards dark chocolate, therapy dough/putty and Bluey stickers. Cal's Angels have also donated a pen (for use with the journal) and a sticker of their own.

"I think people, in their hearts, want to do good for other people and a lot of times you just don't know what to do," Hickey said. "So this is giving people here—right now, this is the moment and here are three easy ways that you can make a difference, monetary or not."

'Help people feel like they're not forgotten'

At 15 months old, Faith Perry was diagnosed with Premature B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-cell ALL) in March 2021.

A few days prior, she hadn't seemed like herself, according to a GoFundMe. She had been whiny, stopped eating, wasn't sleeping well, and just seemed "generally unhappy." A visit to the pediatrician revealed a mass in Faith's lower abdomen, so she was sent immediately to Advocate Children's Hospital, where she was admitted.

Tests showed that her leukemia had spread to her kidneys, liver, uterus, heart, spinal cord, and possibly her brain.

What followed was a flurry of testing and treatments: bone marrow biopsy, biopsies of most of her affected organs, chemotherapy and radiation.

"I was mostly inpatient with her, so I lived in the hospital with her," Perry recalled.

That came with its stressors and hard moments she said, keeping them both from the comforts of home and the rest of their family. Throughout it all, Faith kept her laughing.

"Even though Faith went through a lot, she was still very, very spunky," Perry said. "Did not ever, ever, not give anyone a hard time .... We were always laughing at her. She was always doing funny things like kind of keep herself busy in the hospital."

It was often something silly—like putting random containers on her head, Perry said—that showed her spirit and levity even while facing such daunting circumstances.

"She was just trying to keep the moment happy, but it was like something so simple and little like that," Perry said. "But yeah, she was really something."

Faith later relapsed and underwent a stem cell transplant, but died in November 2022.

Today, Perry reflects on what those days spent alongside Faith were like for her, and how she envisions gift boxes from Compassion Packed can help.

"The hardest thing about it, you feel very isolated," she said. "You're stuck in the hospital—this journey's so difficult. I think it would really help people feel like they're not forgotten, supported—mostly just thought of. The family—you're going through it as well—any little uplifting moment, you held on to that for a really long time."

They kept that in mind designing the boxes—and they even thought of snacks.

"Rachel expressed specifically, some of the hospitals, not having access to good snacks," Hickey said, "and when you're stuck, you're stuck."

So they added the braided pretzels.

Faith also had a favorite stuffed animal she toted with her.

"She was really into Bluey," Perry said. "That was probably her favorite."

The boxes, then, include Bluey stickers.

"We just wanted to take into consideration all ages, all stages—everybody's journey looks really different," Hickey said. "And so we tried to make it something that, whether you're at the first day of this journey or you're at an unfortunate end of the journey, you know, it can help anyone at any point. And Rachel was really good about helping us figure that out."

For Perry, she loved outreach.

"When I was inpatient with Faith, I loved when people would reach out, communicate, ask questions, so I really like the card idea—just a simple message. Feeling like I still had people to talk to about it."

Walker said she hopes the boxes will remind people that communication and support can be key for families like Perry's.

"I never had the pleasure of meeting Faith, but I know that it's like an uncomfortable topic for a lot of people to talk about," Walker said. "It's not about us, it's about the Perry family, it's about Faith and she deserves to still be talked about.

"I think, sometimes people are nervous to bring her up—from what Rachel has mentioned, people may feel uncomfortable hearing about their experience, as if talking about it is going to make somebody emotional—and it's okay if people get emotional talking about their child, of course.

"So I think that by having something tangible, it's a way for people who may still not be fully comfortable talking to somebody or asking questions—it's a way for them to still contribute. It's that stepping stone. ... We need to be there for people, so you can make a card, you can donate, you can just show up for people in different ways."

'From the happy to the hard'

Compassion Packed Gift Co. was born from a desire to support people in impactful life moments—from the happy, to deep grief—the latter which Perry has felt firsthand.

"Especially in the beginning, right after losing Faith, it was really hard," she said. "But it hasn't gone away—it's still there. It just kind of changes over time. And what I really appreciate about Compassion Packed, is that they don't forget that. They still allow you to have the space to have all those feelings, to talk about all those things, and to receive something to still acknowledge that someone's thinking of you during those times.

Though other people move on more easily after mourning, families like Perry's often remain in the thick of it.

"You still think about them, still miss them," she said. "So even just looking at some of the stuff that I know that Kelly has given me in the past—I look at them every day, and it's just a reminder that someone thought of me and my family during really hard times.

"So I think their mission is really great. From the happy to the hard stuff—it makes you not feel forgotten."

As part of their Faith Over Fear box creation efforts, Compassion Packed will hold a card making event where the community can come together to acknowledge and support the pediatric cancer community. This event will be hosted by Compassion Packed and the Perry Family at New Lenox Public Library on September 7. From 12:30 to 3:30 that day, people can gather to create cards for inclusion in the boxes to be donated to pediatric oncology families.

Those unable to attend the event can still participate. All are welcome to grab craft supplies and create cards, that can be mailed to Compassion Packed at PO Box 28 in Frankfort, IL 60423. The cards will be placed in the boxes to be given to the families. The collection is ongoing through the end of September, and guidelines for the cards are found below.

Local businesses with space and interested in hosting a card-making station can also contact Compassion Packed at compassionpackedgifts@gmail.com for materials.

Compassion Packed is also inviting people to donate a toy to Advocate Children’s Oncology Unit. All donated toys must be purchased through their Amazon Wishlist. This wishlist was compiled by the Oncology Unit’s Child Life Specialists with items that they can use to support patients of all ages and developmental needs. These items will also be collected through the end of September and delivered to the hospital with the rest of the gift boxes and cards.

"We hope to overwhelm our local hospital and the children with gift boxes, cards and toys this Fall and that is only possible with your help," Compassion Packed said. "

"The further we can spread this campaign, the more we will be able to give back. ... Your willingness to raise awareness, offer support, and give generously towards a cause that may not even personally affect you, speaks volumes. We are thrilled to be able to fill the hands of patients with cards and gift boxes that will offer them joy + light among some of their darkest days— and that would not be possible without YOU."

Find out more about how you can help.