PHOTO CAPTION: Then 7-year-old Hudson Simmons was handed a snow cone by his mom, Bethany Ramer, during a fundraiser on May 8.
Eleven months after being diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), a rare and aggressive brain tumor, Hudson Ty Simmons died Oct. 14. He had turned 8 in August.
His family called him “Super Huddy,” a nickname that reflected his love of superheroes and the courage he displayed throughout his illness.
On May 8, when the Glenwood boy attended a snow cone fundraiser in his honor, he had a big smile on his face as he spent the afternoon with family, friends and others who had gathered to support him. He wore a T-shirt that said “cancer warrior.”
During an interview at the event, Hudson’s mother, Bethany Ramer, and stepfather, Patrick Ramer, spoke about the challenges their family had faced and the remarkable attitude the boy maintained despite his illness.
“It’s been tough for all of us,” Patrick Ramer said at the time, “but Hudson, he’s the only one who doesn’t know he’s sick. He’s an inspiration to everybody.”
Even during difficult treatments, he said, Hudson remained concerned about those around him.
“In the heat of the radiation, all that, he’s feeling bad, he’ll still manage to shoot you a smile,” Ramer said. “He’s always trying to make everybody around him feel good.”
His family said Hudson loved to laugh and make others laugh. In addition to superheroes, he enjoyed monster trucks, fast cars, basketball and video games. His favorite color was purple, and he was a fan of basketball great Scottie Pippen.
His older brother, Tucker, was also his best friend. The two shared adventures and a close bond that his family described in Hudson’s obituary.
His family also remembered his hugs, his sense of humor and his strong Christian faith.
Hudson’s illness began revealing itself in 2025 when his mother noticed one of his eyes turning inward. An eye doctor initially prescribed glasses, suggesting the problem might involve a weak muscle.
But after several months without improvement, Hudson developed additional symptoms.
“He was limping on his right side, and he came and he said, ‘Mama, I can’t grip things with my right hand,’” Bethany Ramer recalled during the May interview.
She immediately took him to Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock. Doctors discovered a brain tumor, and Hudson was diagnosed Nov. 23, 2025.
He subsequently underwent radiation treatments five days a week for six weeks.
The family hoped he might qualify for an experimental treatment through a clinical trial at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. However, a follow-up scan revealed that the cancer had spread, preventing his participation in the trial.
Bethany Ramer described the difficulty of confronting a diagnosis she had never heard of before her son’s illness.
“I went from not even knowing this diagnosis existed to now it’s my life, researching that,” she said. “When the medical professionals tell you there’s not much … you just can’t accept that as a mom. You just can’t. I’ll do whatever I can.”
Throughout the ordeal, Hudson’s family and friends worked to raise awareness of his condition while providing support for the family.
The May fundraiser at Polar Chill Snow featured special flavors called Huddy’s Grape and the Superman Cone, the latter featuring red, white and blue colors.
The family also created a “Super Huddy” logo that appeared on shirts, stickers and bracelets. Purple bracelets bearing the words “Pray for Huddy” became another way for supporters to show their encouragement.
The fundraiser was organized by Karen Baker, a longtime friend of Hudson’s grandparents who had watched his mother grow up.
“Obviously, this is heartbreaking for a family to go through, I know,” Baker said at the time.
His obituary described him as a boy with blue eyes, red hair, freckles and a smile that could brighten a room.
“Some people spend a lifetime making an impact on this world,” the family wrote. “Huddy only needed eight short years to touch countless hearts.”
His family expressed appreciation to the staff at Arkansas Children’s Hospital and LifeTouch Hospice for their care, as well as to the community for its support and prayers.
Funeral services were held Monday, Oct. 19, at the Church of the Nazarene in Glenwood, with burial at Mount Tabor Cemetery.
RELATED STORY:
