What we are about:

No family is ever prepared for the words “your child has cancer”.

And with those words, children and their families begin a journey filled with fear and uncertainty that impacts every dimension of family life. Hospitalizations, chemotherapy, tests and procedures become the family’s routine, but remarkably, children are able to continue to laugh, play and shine when they are held, guided and loved by their families.

What children need more than anything to cope with the experience of having cancer is the emotional and physical presence of their parents.

Imagine a child who wakes to an empty hospital room because their single parent must continue to work to prevent losing their home, or imagine you as that parent faced with such a choice. Or a child who watches her parent’s worried face when the utilities will be turned off; because they missed too much work, bringing them to needed appointments. These are the realities of many families facing childhood cancer, families who have never asked for help before.

Families need your help!

While it is even difficult to think about children having to live in the world of cancer, what is even more difficult is for them is to experience the stress impacting their family due to the demands related to their disease. It is not unusual for families to struggle financially, as one parent typically must remain with the child who is sick and cannot continue employment. There are additional expenses of costs related to frequent trips back and forth to the hospital, childcare of young siblings, and uncovered medical expenses. Parents are sometimes faced not only with the possibility of losing their child, but day to day worries of managing their home and family while their hearts are breaking.