THON Weekend is finally here! VALLEY is so excited to celebrate this special time at Penn State by highlighting one of THON’s beloved families — the William Sweger family. Read on to learn more about the Sweger family and their involvement in THON over the years!
The Sweger Family Story
The Sweger Family has been involved in THON since early 2016. They have embraced the Penn State and THON community by attending both in-person and virtual events over the years. However, their story does not start with THON.
William Sweger was diagnosed with Hypodiploid Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on Dec. 16, 2015. William’s fight against cancer began as he underwent chemotherapy which was unsuccessful as doctors discovered that William had a rare subtype of this cancer.
He received a bone marrow transplant in April 2016 and did very well – William was so proud of the fact that he was the second-fastest person to get discharged from the hospital after his transplant. William continued to do well until January 2017 when he sadly relapsed just a few weeks before THON weekend – but that did not stop William and his family from watching the livestream of that entire weekend.
When William was ill in January 2017, he was accepted into the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) CD19 clinical trial. He was about the 150th child in the trial which has since been approved as the CAR T-Cell Therapy. Unfortunately, the therapy still left William with two percent of the cancer cells. After therapy, CHOP sent William and his family back to Hershey Medical Center where the Sweger family lived closer for more radiation – but William’s immune system was still weak from the bone marrow transplant he had. The Sweger family ultimately lost William to cancer on July 15, 2017.
Connecting with THON
Once the Sweger family was connected with THON through Four Diamonds, Amy Nesbit recalls their very first experience with the organization:
“Our very first experience with any type of of THON member was one day while in clinic, two students came in and they were just there to kind of distract the kids keep them occupied throughout the day, because clinic can be really long, trying days. And they asked William if he wanted to play PlayStation. So they just played PlayStation with him for an hour or two. And he just thought that was so great. Like, hey, these college kids wanted to play PlayStation with me. And it sure beats in a room looking at Mom all day. So he was pretty excited about that.”
The following week when the Sweger family went in for an appointment to the clinic, William had a surprise waiting for him. Because William was not able to attend THON that year, the same students who played PlayStation with him sent William a gift box with a THON t-shirt, hats, goodies and more. “He was just over the moon that they thought of him …” Amy Nesbit says.
Later on, the Sweger Family was connected with Bee House Alumni which has since been disbanded. However last year, Amy and Derek Nesbit put in another application and were paired with the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences.
William’s Legacy
William’s legacy extends far beyond his family. It lasts in the hearts and minds of over 16,000 Penn State students who THON. Each year, dancers, committee members, captains and students remember William and the light that he shared with the world.
William’s family is incredibly grateful for THON because …
“You allow my kids to be little … whether it’s for a minute, or a moment, or the whole weekend, you allow them to forget that they have cancer, you allow parents to forget that their child has cancer or a sibling that their brother passed away cancer, you guys allow them to forget that you allow them to just be kids … [It] gives children a voice that they otherwise wouldn’t have. Words can never justify what you guys do and what THON means. William will always have a place at THON. That is one place where William lives on despite the world continuing on without him. And that is just such an amazing gift.”
Amy and Derek Nesbit
The Sweger Family’s Message for VALLEY
The Sweger family wants VALLEY’s readers to know:
“Today you’re planting a tree for which the shade you’ll never sit under. You’re being the forerunners and the pioneers … to pave the way for the children that someday will never have to THON because there won’t be a need for it.”
Derek Nesbit
Amy Nesbit shares that no matter your involvement, THON will truly change your life and that you cannot come away from THON without being changed in a positive way. Each year, Amy and Derek Nesbit visit Penn State for THON-related events and speaking engagements. The Sweger family has been able to attend THON each year since 2018 after William’s passing. They will be in attendance at THON Weekend 2024 and look forward to attending many more THON events in the future.
Dancing For a Cure
Celebrate William and countless other children and families who are impacted by pediatric cancer this THON Weekend, Feb. 16 through Feb. 18 in the Bryce Jordan Center. If you are unable to attend, you can also donate on THON’s website.
Each year, THON’s year-long efforts culminate in a 46-hour, no-sitting, no-sleeping dance marathon each February to celebrate our survivors, remember those we’ve lost, and take a stand – all in hopes of one day dancing in celebration of a cure.
Share your pictures from THON Weekend with VALLEY by tagging us @VALLEYmag! VALLEY hopes to see you all there!
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