When 4-year-old Bella complained of incredible pain in her tummy, her parents were worried right away – Bella’s not a complainer. Her dad, Travis, brought her to the emergency room where doctors assured them it was just constipation. Weeks later, Bella’s mom, Tabitha, noticed a hard lump in Bella’s abdomen, so at Bella’s next checkup, she brought it up to the doctor. “I could tell …
Each year, Orono High School Men’s and Women’s soccer teams hold a Kick Cancer game to benefit a cancer charity that has special meaning to their program. They’ve always been happy with their fundraising efforts, but in 2018, they decided to kick it up a notch when senior soccer player Emerson Nord’s father Keith was diagnosed with cancer. Keith was a longtime supporter of Children’s …
Twelve-year-old Juliet’s kindness is obvious to anyone who meets her. She’s the kind of girl who goes above and beyond to make her peers feel included. She doesn’t stand for bullying and she takes the time to understand and befriend classmates with behavior problems or disabilities. Ever since she was little, when Juliet has seen something wrong, she wants to make it right. So when …
If you are the kind of person who would gladly offer to make a meal or run errands for a family facing childhood cancer, but don’t know any personally, it can be difficult to know what else you can do to help. Read below for three simple ways you can help a child with cancer, even if you never meet them. Give blood. Children going …
Cancer is a complicated disease, so it can be hard to explain it to your child if a friend or classmate has cancer. However, it is important for your child to know enough about what their friend is going through to be understanding, compassionate and inclusive. If your child knows someone with cancer, here are some tips for talking about it with them. Find out …
This piece was originally posted by Kristy Westrom on the CaringBridge page for her son, Liam, who was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in May 2018. Please, don’t stay little. Please, grow into an amazing young man who is intelligent, caring, and happy. Please, try all the things and make lots of mistakes. Please, continue to grow physically, emotionally and mentally. Please, grow taller …
If you know a child battling cancer, you may want to show you care with a gift. It might be hard to know what the child would enjoy most, or what they can even use while they aren’t feeling well or are stuck in a hospital bed. If you’re looking to brighten a child’s day with a gift, here are a few suggestions and words …
If you think a group of passionate video gamers wouldn’t have an interest childhood cancer research, you would be wrong. A group of gamers from Panda Global, a fast-growing esports brand, held a unique fundraiser for Children’s Cancer Research Fund – they live-streamed themselves playing video games for 24 hours straight and asked fans and Twitter followers to sponsor their effort. In just one day, …
A cancer diagnosis may mean that plans will have to change from what they’ve been in the past. Maybe your sister always hosts Thanksgiving dinner, but this year has been busy helping her child through treatment. Perhaps you and friends meet up to take the kids ice skating on Christmas day, but their child’s treatment has left them too weak to come this year. If …
When Nick was in high school, soccer was everything. So when he started feeling a bad pain in his calf after a game, he assumed it was a normal sports overuse injury – and his doctor agreed. He tried to rest as much as he could and put the issue out of his mind. But a few months later during a State Cup game, the …
Tracy’s brother once said about her, “Don’t ever tell my sister she can’t do something, because she will always prove you wrong.” Proving people wrong has been the unifying thread of Tracy’s life, ever since she was diagnosed with leukemia nearly 25 years ago. When Tracy was just 15, her energy was extremely low. When her doctor checked her iron levels, he decided to also …
When McKhia had to stay in the hospital after her bone marrow transplant (BMT) to treat her cancer, her days got long. Hospital rooms can be boring and dull, especially when you aren’t feeling well and know you aren’t going to be able to go home soon. But Megan Voss, DNP, RN and Greta Yates, MA, MT-BC were determined to bring a bright spot to …
Each year, CCRF presents Butterfly Awards to individuals, organizations and teams that have contributed significant time and resources to ending childhood cancer. We are grateful for the passion and commitment shared by this year’s award recipients. The Ojeda Family – Ambassador We first met Dexter Ojeda in the fall of 2015 and were immediately struck by his kind spirit, sense of humor and contagious smile. …
One year ago, Matthew Buff, a leukemia survivor, was fine-tuning his college applications. Today, he is a busy freshman at Emory University majoring in biology on a pre-med track. Matthew’s personal goal is to become a pediatric oncologist focused on genetic research. The following is his college admissions essay. A round piece of silicone wrapped in a metal ring about the size of a quarter. …
This piece was originally posted by Kristy Westrom on the CaringBridge page for her son, Liam, who was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in May 2018. I made the bed today. Not just straightening the duvet and throwing the pillows on the bed, but fully and purposefully placing the decorative pillows and throw on the bed. I haven’t fully made the bed since before …
If you’re planning to bring a gift to a friend battling cancer, you might not know that some traditional gifts are discouraged – even against the rules – in hospitals. Read below to see what gifts may not be permitted, and what to bring instead. Balloons: Latex or rubber balloons may not be allowed due to potential allergic reactions. Additionally, metallic or mylar balloons may …
Many cancer patients who are undergoing chemotherapy can become immunocompromised – this means their immune systems are very weak, and they are prone to sickness and infection. For children with weakened immune systems, a flu virus or the common cold can be detrimental to their health. Lucky, there are some simple things you can do to lessen the risk of passing along dangerous germs. Even …
This piece was originally posted by Kristy Westrom on the CaringBridge page for her son, Liam, who was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in May 2018. It was a Thursday morning. We had a busy day planned with a doctor’s appointment, going to the gym, meeting friends for lunch, a play date and swimming lessons. It was a regular well-check appointment. I assured Liam …
