Cindy Pretekin
The Watts family are no strangers to Dayton Children's Hospital. From a mother born with spina bifida to a teenager facing a life-changing diagnosis, the hospital has walked alongside them through some of their most difficult moments. With such a deep and personal history, they knew — when the time came — they were exactly where they needed to be.
Brandon Watts rang the cancer bell on February 28, 2025, announcing to the world he is cancer-free! It was an emotional day for his family, as well as his Dayton Children's "family."
Although his cancer diagnosis was life-changing, Brandon's family knew he was exactly where he needed to be. You see, his family has a long history with Dayton Children's. His mom, Jodi, has spina bifida and spent the first six weeks of her life in our newborn intensive care unit (NICU).
"Before Jodi was born, I never thought about the hardships other families were going through," says Jodi's mom, Cindy Pretekin. "But when people show you great acts of kindness, you have a real need to return that kindness."
Cindy began volunteering with the TWIGs and the Women's Board to raise money for kids and families at Dayton Children's. She wasn't the only one who felt the call to help. Her late husband Ron was one of the first chairs of the Foundation Board and a member of the hospital's Board of Trustees. Cindy's brother, Mike Shane, later served as Board of Trustees chair. As a family, they have generously donated to support the NICU and hematology/oncology in honor of all the care they've received.
Cindy says they're just paying it forward. "The kindness we experienced made us want to get involved even more in an organization we believe in," she says.
"When Brandon was diagnosed, he was 18 and we asked if we should go to an adult hospital," recalls Jodi. "The doctor told us, 'He's exactly where he needs to be.' We knew we belonged here."
Brandon injured his knee playing soccer last year. Two months later he was still in pain, so his parents took him to Dayton Children's. The news was what no parent ever wants to hear. Brandon had osteosarcoma, which would require chemotherapy and surgery to remove the cancerous bone in his knee and replace it with a metal joint.
"Brandon is resilient," says Jodi. "He took it all in stride like a much older person. I was the one who was scared and crying, and he comforted me."
Brandon found ways to give back too – he was known for making "rounds" to visit other kids in the hem/onc unit, tell a joke, play a game, even order pizza late at night after the parents had left. He was inpatient during Christmas last year and dressed up his crutches with electric holiday lights to make everyone laugh.
Brandon spent time volunteering at Dayton Children's Hospital and returned to Ball State University in the fall 2025 to resume his studies.
His family knows that giving isn't always about money. It's about time and it's about caring. That's the tradition they will continue to pass down to the next generations.