Why We Need Research to Help Pediatric Cancer Survivors
Editor’s Note: As we commemorate National Cancer Survivor Month, we’d like to introduce you to Katrina Knott, whose daughter, Arianna, was one of the five St. Baldrick’s “Ambassadors” for 2019. As you’ll read in her story, survivorship issues in pediatric cancer need attention – and funding – for those like Arianna, whose challenges are many.
Arianna during treatment.
Cancer-Free Isn’t Free: Massy’s Story
Mary Stewart Witherspoon, my daughter, was diagnosed with FLT-3 ITD acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in July 2014 when she was 4 years old. She had been running a low-grade fever for about a week with a runny nose. Her appetite was not great, but she was also a busy kid. When my wife said she was going to take her to the doctor, it was really to rule out the flu or just stay ahead of whatever was causing the symptoms.
The Survivor’s Road
Ellie’s son, Chase
The clinic waiting room wall was green. It had always been green, but I hadn’t stared at it like I was staring now. My eyes felt glued to the wall before me and I looked at the bright, grassy color as if I could see through it, absently tracing the silver words marking the direction “hematology and oncology” … “waiting area” … but all the while, I was focused entirely on the voice of the oncologist coming through the phone pressed to my ear, focused on the words that had me feeling frozen in place.
Q&A On Fertility After Adolescent or Young Adult Cancer
Each survivor’s risk of late effects of cancer treatment depends on their tumor, specific treatments, age, genetic makeup and other factors. Surgeries, chemotherapies, radiation, stem cell transplants and other treatments take a toll on the body – and sometimes the mind – in many ways. Some late effects make life more difficult; others are life-threatening.
Heart and lung problems are common, as are secondary cancers.
Other late effects can include hearing problems, hormonal imbalances, difficulty growing, mental health needs or cognitive deficiencies, bone density issues and easy bone fractures, fertility and reproductive problems, and more.
Our family was an ordinary family before childhood cancer.
This was written by Hudson’s mom, Jessica McKearney.
I work as a Nurse Practitioner and Kyle works as a Project Manager. We live in a small town in Northeast Iowa. Before March 2019, Hudson was an energetic, Mickey Mouse and car loving toddler. He was spirited, happy, loved to dance and kept us on our toes. In November 2018, Hudson became a big brother to his sister Violet. Two under two was exciting and exhausting. Hudson was caring, empathetic, and always wanted to be with Violet. They had an incredible bond, and we were grateful to have two happy and healthy toddlers.
What is a Hero Fund?
Have you heard of a St. Baldrick’s Hero Fund and wondered what it was — and maybe whether you should have one? Here are the basics, along with how a few families feel about their experience.
The Dream Team’s Impact – in a Father’s Own Words
Formerly known as the St. Baldrick’s – Stand Up to Cancer Pediatric Cancer Dream Team, this team is now the St. Baldrick’s EPICC Team (Empowering Pediatric Immunotherapies for Childhood Cancer).
What does your support of childhood cancer research really mean? See what Carlos Sandi has to say about what a difference the St. Baldrick’s Foundation and specifically the St. Baldrick’s – Stand Up to Cancer Pediatric Cancer Dream Team, have made to his family.
FINDING LIFE AFTER DEATH: After losing twin boys to cancer the Deckers harness the power of hope to honor them.
For a parent, losing a child shatters your core beliefs, assumptions about the world, and your expectations of how life should unfold. Losing two children only 18 months apart… truly devastating.
Q & A with Siblings of the 2020 Ambassadors
April 10th is National Siblings Day. You know, your parents’ other children who push your buttons just right, make you laugh when you least expect it, or get you in trouble with mom and dad? Yeah, those people – your brother or sister, older or younger, today’s the day to show them that they are an important person in your life!
For National Siblings Day, we checked in with the brothers and sister of some of the 2020 St. Baldrick’s Ambassadors! Childhood cancer impacts the entire family, and we want to share what it feels like to be a sibling of a kid with cancer. Meet some remarkable kids who opened up to us about their experience!
Keeping Your Marriage Strong When Your Child Has Cancer
Jack Callahan has been through a ton in just four years on Earth. Six rounds of chemotherapy, then a major surgery, plus three rounds of chemo with three stem cell transplants. Radiation – he’s only part of the way through 33 treatments of that –and hearing loss and hair loss; he spent a total of 117 nights in the hospital in 2019.
For parents Emily and Michael, though, you’d think Valentine’s Day isn’t top of mind today – you may be right, but that doesn’t mean that the young couple isn’t staying connected through this new reality. Both working parents had to scale back their hours, and the family must shuttle back and forth between home in Charlottesville, Virginia and treatments at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Yet, on this Valentine’s Day, we thought we’d share Emily’s perspective: how do they all manage to juggle the stresses and emotional strain of a kid with cancer?
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