Dorman family plans fundraiser to give back to Tori’s Angels

After months of treatment for stage 2 Wilms tumor, Lydia Dorman’s family is preparing to give back to one of the organizations that helped them through it.

Mikayla and Trenton Dorman, along with family, friends, and volunteers from Tori’s Angels Foundation, are organizing a spaghetti supper fundraiser Saturday, Oct. 3, at the Lake City Country Club. The event will run from 5 to 8 p.m. at 1300 E. Main St. Meals will be available for dine-in or carryout until sold out, and an on-site silent auction will include donations from local businesses and vendors connected with Heartland Tire, where Trenton works.

All proceeds will go to Tori’s Angels Foundation to support other families served by the organization.

“From the beginning of Lydia’s acceptance into the foundation, her dad and I discussed that we want to give back to the foundation more than we take,” Mikayla said. “This fundraiser will help us start that process.”

The Dormans began receiving help from Tori’s Angels earlier this year while Lydia underwent treatment at Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines. Tori’s Angels is a Panora-based nonprofit that assists Iowa families whose children face life-threatening medical conditions. The organization helps with expenses not covered by insurance, including copays, deductibles, prescriptions, travel, lodging, and meals.

Mikayla previously told the Phoenix that Tori’s Angels helped the family with copays, mileage, and meals while they traveled regularly from Lake City to Des Moines for Lydia’s treatment. Volunteers also kept in contact with the family and followed Lydia’s progress.

Lydia completed her 15th and final scheduled chemotherapy infusion July 16 after six months of treatment. She had previously undergone surgery May 15 to remove her right kidney after tumors became too widespread for surgeons to preserve part of it.

When the Phoenix last reported on Lydia in July, the family was still waiting for follow-up scans to determine whether she could end active treatment.

On Aug. 7, Mikayla announced that Lydia had no evidence of disease.

“She won’t remember today, but we will and we’ll spend the rest of our lives telling her about it,” Mikayla wrote in an update. “Lydia’s journey with cancer isn’t over, she’ll have ten years of scans and checkups, but today is a milestone that she fought for and won.”

Lydia’s chemotherapy port has since been surgically removed after about eight months. Mikayla said the port had been used throughout treatment for blood draws, antibiotics, medications, fluids, blood transfusions, and chemotherapy infusions.

The family has continued supporting pediatric cancer organizations since Lydia finished active treatment.

Heartland Tire also recently donated $159,730 to Tori’s Angels after Mikayla and Trenton nominated the foundation to receive support. Mikayla said Heartland Tire had supported the family from the beginning of Lydia’s diagnosis, and vendors connected with the company are among those donating items for the October silent auction.

Mikayla said Lydia and the rest of the family will attend the fundraiser. Tori’s Angels volunteers will also be there to talk about the foundation and Lydia’s story.

“Tori’s Angels will be a part of our lives until Lydia’s 19th birthday but even long after that as we hope to support them and their mission for many, many years,” Mikayla said.

The Oct. 3 fundraiser is open to the public. More information is available through the “Spaghetti Supper Fundraiser” event on Facebook. 

Read more about Lydia's journey:

After 15 infusions, the Dorman family celebrates Lydia's final chemotherapy treatment