About True Beginnings
Read about Nora and how Gold Ribbon Kids started from the love of a daughter.
Meet The Founders
Jeremy McConathy – CTO
Jeremy McConathy is a devoted husband to the amazing Tiffany McConathy and a loving father to Zane and the late Princess Nora. A proud 13-year Air Force veteran, Jeremy now works in Information Technology while leading his family with faith in Christ. He is passionately pursuing a mission to drive change in pediatric cancer research funding and prioritization, inspired by Nora’s courageous battle. Jeremy also seeks to pay forward the love and support his family received by finding ways to help others in need.
Tiffany McConathy – COO/CFO
An Arkansas native, Tiffany began her nursing journey at a local community college in 2011. She later earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Central Arkansas, dedicating her career to adult oncology. Since 2018, she has served as an APRN at Genesis Cancer Center, achieving her Advanced Oncology Nurse Practitioner Certification in January 2020.
Tiffany met her husband, Jeremy, while he was serving in the U.S. Air Force in 2012, and they married in 2013. Together, they welcomed their son, Zane, in February 2017, and their daughter, Nora, in December 2020. In September 2021, Nora was diagnosed with ETMR, a rare infantile brain cancer, and tragically passed in February 2022.
Fueled by her profound loss and faith, Tiffany is dedicated to transforming the landscape of pediatric cancer research and advocacy. Mark 5:41.
Diona Simms – Director of Communications
Diona hails from Athens, Tennessee, with roots in Florida. She is a proud mother of three and a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. After stepping away from her career to care for her children as a stay-at-home mom and wife, Diona also provides support to her grandparents. Her passion for oncology was sparked both through her professional experience and personal encounters with cancer.
When Diona learned that federal funding for pediatric cancer was only 4%, she was deeply moved. Shortly after Nora McConathy’s diagnosis, Diona began following her journey and felt compelled to take action. She was driven by a personal connection to Nora’s fight and a strong belief that every child battling cancer deserves a fighting chance.
When Diona had the opportunity to join Nora’s foundation, she felt called by the Lord to make a meaningful difference. With her unwavering passion and dedication, Diona is working to raise awareness about pediatric cancer, advocate for national change, and support various pediatric cancer organizations.
Virginia Laliberte – Secretary
Virginia Laliberte is an Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner with a nursing career that began in 2013. Initially, she attended Bible college to pursue her long-held dream of becoming a secretary. However, after having two children and with the encouragement of her future husband, she shifted her focus to nursing—a profession she had never previously considered. She graduated as a registered nurse in 2012, quickly discovering a deep passion for the field. This passion eventually led her to oncology, and in 2018, she completed a master’s degree as a family nurse practitioner.
Virginia is dedicated to continuous learning and actively contributes her time to volunteer and secretarial roles within various nurse practitioner and oncology-related organizations. She became colleagues with Tiffany in 2018, finding a shared journey in advanced oncology nursing and a mutual enthusiasm for oncology and mission-driven work. Virginia is married to Steven Laliberte, and together, they have raised three teenage daughters. The family resides in Hot Springs, AR.
Kristen Mack – Board Member
Marrisa Burton – Board Director
Nolan Long – Board Member
Nora’s Journey
This story is about a real warrior, in the form of a child.
Nora was born to Tiffany and Jeremy McConathy on December 11, 2020. She was a joyful, loving baby with stunning blue eyes and long brown hair, always smiling. Nora loved watching her brother play, meeting every milestone with curiosity and determination, and splashing happily in the water. Tiffany adored dressing her in the cutest outfits, necklaces, and bows, creating cherished memories.
Life felt perfect until September 16, 2021, when Nora developed right-sided facial weakness. Concerned, we immediately took her to Arkansas Children’s Hospital.
Read more about Nora's Journey
Nora was initially evaluated by a resident, an ER attending, and a pediatric neurologist at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. The neurologist confidently diagnosed her with Bell’s palsy, believing it would resolve on its own.
However, six weeks later, Nora’s condition worsened. She became lethargic, stopped eating, and wasn’t herself. On October 31, 2021, we returned to Arkansas Children’s Hospital. After testing, she was diagnosed with an infection in her right temporal bone near her ear. Doubting this diagnosis, I insisted on an MRI, but the first team of doctors refused. Determined, I requested another neurologist. On November 1, 2021, an MRI revealed several brain tumors and tumors along her spinal cord. A biopsy on November 3, 2021, confirmed it was ETMR (embryonal tumor with multilayered rosettes).
Following the biopsy, treatment was delayed two weeks to allow her to heal. On November 15, she had a port and G-tube placed and was enrolled in the ETMR ONE registry. The next day, she began her first cycle of chemotherapy, including high-dose methotrexate, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, cisplatin, and etoposide, with plans for three cycles followed by transplant chemo with stem cell rescue. Despite the intensive treatment, including a shunt and Ommaya reservoir to alleviate brain pressure, Nora showed remarkable strength.
She underwent a successful stem cell harvest in preparation for tandem stem cell transplant cycles to complete her final three rounds of high-dose chemotherapy. Unfortunately, her treatment was delayed due to an asymptomatic case of COVID-19, adding another challenge to her journey.
Nora’s battle with cancer ended tragically due to the aggressive nature of her illness. Adding to the heartbreak, my husband and I wanted to allow for tissue sampling through an autopsy, but the hospital refused due to her COVID positivity, despite CDC protocols permitting such procedures. With fewer than a thousand cases of Nora’s cancer documented worldwide, this was a lost opportunity to advance research. The hospital’s outdated policies only deepened our sorrow.
In honor of Nora, we have founded a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness and partnering with other pediatric cancer nonprofits to fund critical clinical trials. Through this journey, we’ve discovered the stark lack of funding for pediatric cancer research. Only 4% of government cancer funding is allocated to children, with the American Cancer Society dedicating just 1%. These statistics must change. Pediatric cancers differ significantly from adult cancers, requiring unique research and treatment approaches, with little crossover to adult populations.
As an oncology-certified nurse practitioner, I have a deeper understanding of this disparity, which fuels our commitment to transform the future of pediatric cancer research. While our family grieves, we channel our pain into this mission, striving to make our foundation a household name. Our 5-year-old son, Zane, deeply misses his sister but finds comfort knowing she is in heaven. We speak of her often, holding her memory close as we work toward a future where no family faces what we’ve endured.
Our Impact
“Together we can make a difference and create lasting change.”
We are driven by a deep commitment to helping children battling pediatric cancer, inspired by Nora’s story and the many others still fighting. With no cure available and limited resources, we are dedicated to raising awareness, securing funding, and supporting families in need. Together, we can make a difference and create lasting change.
