Rusty's Hope

05/06/2020

05/03/2019

Happy 12th Birthday to our Russ Man. In honor of the Rusty Bucket today do something in the spirit of 12. Hug your kids 12 times. Send 12 texts to family and friends letting them know how much they mean to you. Donate $12 to the cause that makes your heart bleed. Kiss your partner 12 times. Plant 12 flowers. Bake 12 cookies and take them to your neighbor. Buy 12 pairs of socks or un**es and donate them to your local home shelter. Send 12 emails to the staff at your kids’ school thanking them for the time, energy and love they pour out each day. Take 12 minutes to calm your heart and mind and focus on all your many blessings. Say 12 things you are grateful for out loud around the dinner table tonight. And when you do remember Rusty. Remember how fiercely he loved. How loyal he was. How funny. This world is better because he lived. Let his spirit live on in you and your 12 acts in honor of his life.

03/19/2019

There is so much that I miss. A million little things. Depends on the day what makes it into the number one spot. Today, four years later, it was his passion for the process. His love of baseball was unlike any other little kid I know. He wore us out. The grass has grown back now where he used to stand to bat in the backyard. And I want to go rip it out with my bare hands. The hours he spent in that exact spot. In his stance. Elbow up. It could be 97 degrees with sweat rolling down into his eyes. A refreshing pool with all the other kids playing just 5 feet away. But he would want me to pitch “just one more” until it was so dark he couldn’t see the ball.
Rusty had a dream. At age 4 he was desperate to know what MLB team had won the most World Series. The Yankee’s. By a long shot. The commitment to being the best first basemen in all of major league baseball was forged. He would tell us stories of having to play a few years for the Cubs or Tigers, until he was ready for the Yankee’s because he wasn’t going for just one championship. He believed with all he had that he would win back to back to back. He told us it was his destiny to be part of a dynasty. He talked about his house in New York. That he needed to live close enough to walk to the stadium. He said I could have a car if I wanted one, but he didn’t want to drive to the field every day because of the traffic 
In kindergarten when I would wake him up for school his first question was, “do I have gym today?” If the answer was no, he felt it his duty to tell me that since he was going to play baseball for his career he really didn’t need to go to school. His school would be at home in the backyard. Me pitching. Him hitting. Me throwing. Him catching. He claimed he already knew how to read everything he needed – single, double, triple, homerun, grand slam, RBI, fast ball, slider, curve, breaking ball, change up and of course the score.
Outside of my family I have never loved anything like Rusty loved baseball. I think that is why I was so drawn to his passion. And his love of the process. I cannot tell you how much I miss watching him play. And what I wouldn’t give to be out in the backyard today pitching to him. Rusty loved baseball. Every part of it. In honor of our Rusty, do something you love today. Even if it is just for a few minutes. Whatever brings you joy. Makes you happy. Gives you self-esteem. Take a moment and remember Rusty. And do that thing you love.

12/18/2018

If you attended this years Rusty’s Hope Gold Gala you were introduced to our dear friend Chase and his family. Chase has defied all odds and just turned 9 years old! See what he received as a gift!

10/01/2018

09/13/2018

You are invited. Please join us. It is an incredible night honoring the life and legacy of our Russ Man. This year is the five year anniversary of Rusty's Make A Wish trip to Hollywood Studios to train as a Jedi and defeat Darth Vader so there will be Star Wars characters and decor. Come remember Rusty. Say his name. See his name in print. Share memories with us. All while raising awareness and funding for childhood cancer. It is party! Come! Buy your tickets online at

Rusty’s Hope, Inc. was established in memory of Russell “Rusty” Schultz to bring hope of a cure to pediatric brain cancer patients and their families.

08/07/2018

This year marks 5 years since Rusty's Make A Wish trip to "Defeat Darth Vader" at Disney's Hollywood Studios. It was truly magical. All the feels. Some of our most cherished memories of our Russ Man. We felt it was only right to add some Star Wars flare to this year's Gold Gala. Come celebrate with us! Tickets on sale now at www.rustyshope.org.

06/30/2018

It's that time of year again. Time to celebrate the life of our Rusty! Please join us for a night of honoring his legacy as we raise awareness and funding for pediatric brain cancer patients and their families. Save the date for Saturday, September 29. Tickets will go on sale August 1. We cannot wait to spend the evening with you!

03/19/2018

It was early in January 2015. Now that three years have passed I cannot remember the exact date. It was my night with Rusty. His head was resting just under my chin, on my chest. I more felt him speak than heard him. And again I can’t remember it word for word now, but just about. He said, “You know how we both hate winter and want to live at the beach because we hate coats and won’t wear them so all the old ladies at Target say stuff to us about where’s your coat, you’re going to getting a cold.” I didn’t answer out loud, just chuckled. True story. Rusty and I abhor coats, gloves, hats, scarfs and all shoes that aren’t flip flops. We hate every temperature below 60 degrees. Then he put his hand on my cheek so I would know the importance of what he was saying next. This I do remember word for word. “Mama, I am going to try really hard to not die in the winter. Just for you, I am going to make it to spring so you don’t have to wear a coat to my service.”
My Rusty died on March 19, 2015. We had his visitation on Friday, March 20. The first day of spring. And I didn’t wear a coat.
Here’s to my son. Who in these tiny moments taught me giant life lessons about how deep, wide and vast love is and how it can compel you to do incredible acts that bring life and light to others. My heart remains shattered by his absence. But each act of love done by one of you in his memory is a shard put back into place. Thank you for loving me, my son, my family. Then. And now.