Today we’d like to introduce you to Cindy Hank-Fuls.
Hi Cindy, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, let’s briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
Our son Tanner was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) in August 2010. He had to go through rounds of chemo, radiation, and a bone marrow transplant. He had a successful bone marrow transplant on November 8, 2010, at the U of M Masonic Children’s Hospital. We were filled with so much hope and were surrounded by our family as Tanner’s transplant took place. Unfortunately, Tanner developed an infection that weekend and was transferred to the PICU and put on a ventilator. The next couple of weeks were up and down as the medical staff tried everything to keep him better. On November 27, 2010, our lives changed forever as Tanner lost his battle and went to heaven.
John, my husband, Maddie, our 8-year-old daughter, and I were with Tanner as they tried for over an hour to keep him here with us. If I had to write his story a thousand times, this is never the ending I would have written. That night, when we returned to the Ronald McDonald House, we all lay in bed and held onto each other. John and I vowed to hold onto each other and get through this for Tanner, Maddie, and ourselves. We were so blessed with many friends, family, and even strangers from the day Tanner was diagnosed. John and I felt we needed to pay it to others in need. We started a nonprofit 501c3 in June 2011 called Tanner’s Team Foundation. We wanted to help other families with children with life-threatening illnesses and keep Tanner’s legacy alive. Our first grant was given to a family in November 2011 for $500.00. We were so excited and ready to continue our mission. Many outstanding board members have followed our mission and compassion for Tanner’s Team Foundation. With the community, friends, family, and many others, we continued helping one family after another. Through 2023, we will serve 45 counties in central Minnesota. We started with only 16 counties. We have given out $694,000 to 595 grant recipients/families. We just had our annual 2024 brainstorming session with all our board members, and we have voted that our average grant paid to each family will be up to $2,500.00. We have come a long way since inception, all because of Tanner.
Our mission statement: Our mission is to carry on a legacy inspired by Tanner Fuls, a boy who taught us how to live, laugh, and listen. Our foundation will work as a team to financially help families in central Minnesota who have children with life-threatening illnesses.
Please talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned. Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has been a challenging road to fight through losing a child. I do know that Tanner’s Team Foundation has been a part of the healing process for my heart and soul. It has helped me push through some of those tough days. I have said from the day we lost Tanner, I thank God for our daughter Maddie. Some days, she is the only reason I get up in the morning at the beginning.
Thanks for sharing that. You could tell us more about your work.
I prefer to leave this portion private, but if you want more information about the foundation, please let me know.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Paying it forward has always been the underlying factor; we were carried/blessed by many people during our journey. It was our time to pay it now forward. Our board members have believed in our mission and followed our compassion to help others in need.
Contact Info:
- Website: Tannersteam.org
- Facebook: Tanner’s Team Foundation
Image Credits
This family photo was taken the night Tanner skated the flag at the MN Wild Game on October 28, 2010. It was the moment of his lifetime, and we were all there to be with him that night. He checked into the U of M the next day to start his bone marrow transplant treatment. Please visit our website at Tannersteam.org to get photos from our foundation.
