SmileLikeZoey
St. Paul members Ryan Carney and Amanda Moeller-Carney turn their grief into action, hosting local blood drives and other events in honor of their daughter, Zoey.
Zoey Carney’s smile was infectious. According to those who knew her best, she was a beacon of joy and positivity. She was an outstanding athlete, playing soccer with the Iowa Olympic Development Program and other local clubs. She excelled in basketball, volleyball, and softball. Zoey’s love for animals was evident in her participation in 4H, where she showed dairy cows at the fair and cared for her pet ducks, chickens, and dogs Petey and Bailey.
“If she walked into school without a smile, her teachers knew something was wrong,” Amanda said. “She was just a happy girl. She made friends with everyone she came across. She had no struggles in life until we got to this roadblock.”
Last fall, Zoey was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 12 and died in November, just six weeks after her diagnosis. Her battle with cancer was brief but intense, requiring numerous blood and platelet transfusions that provided her with precious time to spend with her family. Inspired by Zoey’s resilience and radiant spirit, her parents have turned their grief into a mission to help other families facing similar challenges.
The SmileLikeZoey Blood Drive is an initiative by Zoey’s parents Ryan and Amanda to honor their daughter.
“We talked about blood donation daily with her medical team,” Amanda recalled. “Zoey needed multiple transfusions a day, and it was always in the back of our minds to do something to give back. We created a memorial for Zoey called ‘SmileLikeZoey’ to carry on her legacy.”
Neither Amanda nor Ryan were active blood donors before Zoey’s illness, but their experiences motivated them to become regular donors.
“It’s our way of giving back to everyone who experiences childhood cancer,” Amanda said. Ryan added, “The St. Paul blood drive will be my second time donating blood. Blood donations plays a critical role in the treatment and recovery of cancer patients. Donations help others like Zoey fight these childhood cancers.”
The SmileLikeZoey Blood Drive has already seen significant community support. The first drive was held at Zoey’s school in North Scott, followed by another at Ryan’s John Deere office. St. Paul holds the third blood drive this month.
“We were shocked by the turnout at Zoey’s school. We got almost three times the amount of donors we expected,” Ryan shared.
Ryan and Amanda are committed to honoring Zoey’s legacy through various initiatives in addition to the donation of blood. They advocate for childhood cancer awareness and research through dance marathons at the University of Iowa, North Scott Schools and beyond, and have established scholarship and memorial funds in Zoey’s name.
“We want Zoey to be remembered as a fighter, a strong person,” Ryan said. “Her smile and spirit inspire us to keep going and help others.”
SmileLikeZoey Blood Donor Day at St. Paul
Volunteer to help others battling serious injury and illness at the spring Blood Donor Day in honor of Zoey Carney on Wednesday, May 14, 1:30-6 p.m. in Fellowship Hall.
Can’t make it to the May 14 blood drive? Stop into ImpactLife anytime during the month of May to donate blood and tell them its for SmileLikeZoey or use sponsor code 6105 at your donation.
