Golden Ribbon Hero Anna from Chicago

Tag Archives: childhood cancer

With September—Childhood Cancer Awareness Month—just around the corner, we would like to take a few minutes to thank Anna and her family for taking the time to be part of our awareness activities in Chicago in mid-June. After a year of treatment for T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Anna is currently in the middle of aggressive chemotherapy designed to eliminate the last remaining cancer cells in her blood so she can move to the next phase of treatment: maintenance. Yet despite a prolonged hospital stay as Anna’s young body continues to struggle with the effects of the aggressive treatment, she was excited to participate in this important awareness campaign, to act as an ambassador for all the many childhood cancer warriors facing this terrible disease. It was truly an honor to meet her!

Anna’s Story

September of 2015, Anna was a typical 5 year-old starting kindergarten. However, only three weeks into the school year, this typically energetic and sassy redhead was becoming more and more lethargic, with fevers that wouldn’t stay away and bruises that kept coming back. After bringing her to urgent care on a Sunday afternoon, Anna’s parents knew something just wasn’t right and took her to the ER for a follow-up. While the sense of urgency was ultimately correct and somewhat expected, the diagnosis certainly wasn’t. Anna’s parents were told she likely had leukemia and was very, very sick. She was sent directly to the PICU where she spent the next several days and additional days in the pediatric ward where she was ultimately diagnosed with T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, a sub-type of leukemia, which is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow.

Cancer Diagnosis

In the early days after diagnosis, Anna’s family members were inundated with a whirlwind of information amidst their concern around their little girl’s life. Within the first couple of days, Anna had surgery to place a port, decisions needed to be made about whether or not to treat her as part of a clinical study, and instant education needed to happen around a plethora of unfamiliar vocabulary and options for a very overwhelmed and frightened set of parents. Both Anna and her concerned older sister were thrown into a scary place as a patient and a sibling that involved serious yet child-friendly dialogues around cancer and what it would mean for everyone involved. And of course Anna herself had to adapt to being poked and prodded endlessly, forced to take many awful medicines to bring her body into a safe place for early and aggressive treatment, all the while trying to understand as a kindergartner why all of this was so important and necessary.

T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Treatment

There was an exceptionally fearful time in the early weeks of treatment where a suspected life-threatening turn of events required a rapid response from the emergency staff on the pediatric floor, and Anna’s parents were told to prepare for the worst. Luckily, it was determined that it was a lesser threat of kidney stones, but that led into very painful days for Anna to pass the stones, all while enduring chemotherapy and being on a low sodium diet during a phase of treatment where the side effects drive patients to crave salty food. All in all, it was one of the most miserable and terrifying phases of her they had experienced to date.

In spite of this set of conditions, Anna showed a tremendous will of spirit. She loved her new friends in the hospital from Child Life, the nursing staff, and the hospital volunteers. She thought the toys and playtime to explain the medical routines were a treat, not a chore. Her joy in these trying times helped to lift her family through this seismic shift in their lives, especially through many of the logistical challenges. The daily life activities of Anna’s sister’s school attendance, homework, sports, pet care, household chores, etc. all still needed to happen while one parent remained in the hospital at all times.

As time passed and Anna’s treatment shifted to primarily weekly outpatient visits with planned inpatient stays for longer chemotherapy sessions, her road map was anything but certain. Several times she spent multiple days in the hospital due to fevers or side effects from treatment. Lumbar punctures, chemotherapy, and transfusions become commonplace, which no child nor family should have to come to know. However, at least the plan was in place, and Anna was responding to treatment. By January she was declared to be in remission…one step closer to the ultimate goal of curing Anna of cancer entirely.

Anna Now

Anna is currently still in treatment and close to reaching the beginning of the next phase…maintenance, where she will continue aggressive support of staying in remission for at least several months beyond that. The calendar is not yet completely certain, as it is completely dependent on how the days and weeks of treatment pass in the meanwhile. The chemotherapy has been brutal for Anna, and she has sometimes had delays between treatments due to the effects and how she recovers from each session. However, Anna is a fighter, and she is looking forward to returning to school this year, in spite of the ongoing risks and having to be isolated or excluded if her body has a tough time with ongoing treatment. Her family continues to try to creatively keep Anna focused positively on fun in spite of the hard work. Fighting as a family toward beating cancer has brought them closer together and helped them to be more inspired to live life with meaning and joy in spite of the dark and scary days in between.

To submit a Gold Ribbon Hero’s story, please Click Here.

For additional information about childhood cancer or on the ACCO, or to order resources for you or your child, please visit our website at www.acco.org , call 855.858.2226 or visit:

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SHARE YOUR STORY WITH THE WORLD

HOW DID CHILDHOOD CANCER CHANGE YOUR LIFE?

For those of us who have heard the words “your child or teen has cancer,” we know this is not just something that happens in the United States. It happens to families across the globe, everyday! In fact, there are more than 300,000 children under the age of 19 diagnosed around the world each year. 80% of these children are from low-middle income countries where access to treatment and cure are too often beyond reach.

We also know that as a united front, from every country together, we have the opportunity to change the impact of this devastating diagnosis. The World Health Organization (WHO) is inviting families to share our stories to raise awareness of childhood cancer as a unique and significant type of Noncommunicable Disease (NCD). We ask you to share your story and be a voice for those who have none!

To Share Your Story Click Here or the Button Below:

This is an opportunity to share YOUR personal story of approximately 400 words about how childhood cancer impacted your life; the measures taken to treat the child in your country; the actions of stakeholders that were helpful; as well as your perspective on how government can enable support to improve childhood cancer outcomes. Short stories can be written from the perspective of the patient, survivor, parent or healthcare worker. We are looking to highlight the childhood cancer challenges that exist and the great potential to overcome them.

*Note: We would like to include high quality photos to show the child or teen who is featured in the story, as well as tell the story through the image. We ask that your NCD story and photo please be emailed to:

ncds-and-me@who.int and to us here at ACCO (copy and paste email) at: rhoffman@acco.org.

Thanks in advance for your timely response to this enormous opportunity.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions at: rhoffman@acco.org

Thank You,

Ruth I Hoffman, MPH, Executive Director of ACCO and

Vice Chair of Childhood Cancer International

An Introduction to Childhood Cancer

Cancer is a general term for diseases caused by the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. Awareness of and attention to adult cancers has grown exponentially over the past decades, but many people still don’t know much about childhood cancer. Did you know that 1 out of every 285 children in the U.S. will be diagnosed with childhood cancer before they turn 20? Or that more than 1,700 American children will die from childhood cancer this year? At the American Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO), we’re committed to building awareness about this devastating disease and the terrible toll it takes on children and their families. So let’s start with a few simple facts about childhood cancer.

The Most Common Types of Childhood Cancer

Childhood cancer is different from adult cancer. Unlike adult cancers, childhood cancers are not closely linked to lifestyle choices or environmental exposure, and there are no screening tests that enable early detection. Often, childhood cancer is not detected or diagnosed until it begins causing noticeable symptoms.

The cancers children get are different from the cancers adults get. Some childhood cancers only occur in very young children, some are more common in teens and young adults, and some never occur in adults at all. The most common types of childhood cancer are:

Leukemia: Leukemias are cancers of the bone marrow and blood, and they make up about 25% of all childhood cancers. The two main types are acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), both of which grow quickly and require immediate treatment.
Brain and central nervous system tumors: Brain tumors (and less commonly spinal cord tumors) make up about 17% of all childhood cancers. They are the most common solid tumor in children. There are a variety of different types of brain tumors, classified by where the tumor started, such as gliomas, astrocytomas and primitive neuroectodermal tumors.
Lymphoma: Lymphoma begins in the immune system, and is likely to be found in the lymph nodes, tonsils, thymus or spleen. Hodgkin lymphoma accounts for around 6% of childhood cancers and is most common in young adults; non-Hodgkin lymphoma accounts for around 7% of childhood cancers and occurs in younger children, but is rare in children under 3. Lymphoma is generally a rapidly-growing form of cancer and requires immediate treatment.
Neuroblastoma: Found primarily in infants and very young children, neuroblastomas constitute about 6% of childhood cancers. Although neuroblastoma can start anywhere, it is most commonly found in the abdomen.
Wilms tumor: About 4% of childhood cancers, Wilms tumor starts in the kidney (it usually occurs in one, though in rare cases it can be found in both). It is most common in children between the ages of 3 and 4, and uncommon in children older than 6.
Rhabdomyosarcoma: The most commonly occurring soft tissue sarcoma in children, this cancer grows in cells that develop into skeletal muscles and can be found anywhere in the body. It accounts for approximately 3% of childhood cancers.
Bone cancers: Primary bone cancers start in the bones, and differ from metastatic bone cancer, which is a cancer that has started elsewhere but spread into the bone. Primary bone cancers make up about 5% of childhood cancers. The most common types of bone cancer in children are osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma.
Retinoblastoma: This cancer starts in the eye and is most common in children under the age of 2. It is rarely found in children older than 6. It constitutes about 2% of childhood cancers.

Why Is Raising Awareness About Childhood Cancer Important?

Although still considered to be “rare” by some, the fact is that childhood cancer is the leading cause of death by disease for children under the age of 15, and it seems like most people know at least someone in their school or their town who has been personally affected by childhood cancer. And while rates of childhood cancer are increasing, research into the development of new, less toxic treatment options for childhood cancer is not keeping pace: of the more than 100 new cancer drugs approved by the FDA since 1990, only three were developed specifically to treat childhood cancer. Many forms of childhood cancer are now considered treatable, with long-term survival rates above 80 or even 90%, but some forms of childhood cancer still have extremely high mortality rates, and most childhood cancer survivors are left with long-term health problems as a result of their cancer treatment.

Childhood cancer is devastating, but you can help. The American Childhood Cancer Organization is dedicated to raising awareness about childhood cancer, as well as providing resources and support to children and families affected by childhood cancer. Please donate so we can continue to provide our services for free.

Together, we can make a difference.

Donate today… because kids can’t fight cancer alone®.

Christopher Gitter

Atlanta law firm, John Foy & Associates, announced their first winner of a bi-annual “Strong Arm” Leukemia Scholarship. Christopher Gitter, 18, a Mendota Heights, MN, resident was awarded the first “Strong Arm” Leukemia Scholarship. Chris will use the $1,000 as an incoming college freshman in Fall 2016. He has already been accepted into the College of Agricultural & Life Sciences at University of Wisconsin, Madison. Christopher is waiting to hear from a few more schools, but if he decides to attend Wisconsin, he will be a fifth-generation Badger. Read more and watch the interview with Chris here.

Read Chris’s Winning Essay Here.

You too can join the chorus in a brand new song that will be released globally on International Childhood Cancer Day, February 15, 2016. The song “We Are One” is written by Christophe Beck who composed the film music for Disney’s Frozen.

Visit child4child.com and record your voice now. All you need is your webcam. Let’s make a change.

Join Cameron Dallas, 2014 Teen Choice Awards winner, in raising your voice against childhood cancer:

We need your help to make this happen!

If you are interested in adding your child’s voice to this amazing chorus, here’s what to do:

Go to child4child.com
Learn the very simple, moving chorus by listening to the samples recorded by some incredible child singers
When your child is ready, click the yellow “Record the Chorus” button on child4child.com to record your child’s version of the chorus

Pass the word along and help make this hit go viral!
Record your child singing along with BFFs!
Ask your child’s teacher to have the entire class record their voices!
Get your church choir to raise their voices together on the chorus!
Organize a team building event for your child’s sports team and record them all singing together! The possibilities are truly endless!

More about Cameron Dallas

California native Cameron Dallas has gained over 15 million combined followers on social media in less than a year. Cameron most recently won Teen’s Choice Favorite Viner at the 2014 Teen Choice Awards. He is also the lead role in a 2014 feature length film, “Expelled” which debuted at the top of the iTunes movie download chart.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Visit child4child.com and record your voice now. All you need is your webcam. Let’s make a change.

Join Reuben de Maid, rising UK child star, in raising your voice against childhood cancer:

We need your help to make this happen!

If you are interested in adding your child’s voice to this amazing chorus, here’s what to do:

Go to child4child.com
Learn the very simple, moving chorus by listening to the samples recorded by some incredible child singers
When your child is ready, click the yellow “Record the Chorus” button on child4child.com to record your child’s version of the chorus

Pass the word along and help make this hit go viral!
Record your child singing along with BFFs!
Ask your child’s teacher to have the entire class record their voices!
Get your church choir to raise their voices together on the chorus!
Organize a team building event for your child’s sports team and record them all singing together! The possibilities are truly endless!

More about Reuben de Maid

Emeli Sande performed by Reuben de Maid at Open Mic UK singing contest:

Visit child4child.com and record your voice now. All you need is your webcam. Let’s make a change.

Join Laura Kamhuber, from the TV show The Voice Kids Germany, in raising your voice against childhood cancer:

We need your help to make this happen!

If you are interested in adding your child’s voice to this amazing chorus, here’s what to do:

Go to child4child.com
Learn the very simple, moving chorus by listening to the samples recorded by some incredible child singers
When your child is ready, click the yellow “Record the Chorus” button on child4child.com to record your child’s version of the chorus

Pass the word along and help make this hit go viral!
Record your child singing along with BFFs!
Ask your child’s teacher to have the entire class record their voices!
Get your church choir to raise their voices together on the chorus!
Organize a team building event for your child’s sports team and record them all singing together! The possibilities are truly endless!

More about Laura Kamhuber

Laura sings Hurt by Christina Aguilera on The Voice Kids: Finale

Visit child4child.com and record your voice now. All you need is your webcam. Let’s make a change.

Join Jahna Lucero, Grand Finalist Teen Star UK, in raising your voice against childhood cancer:

We need your help to make this happen!

If you are interested in adding your child’s voice to this amazing chorus, here’s what to do:

Go to child4child.com
Learn the very simple, moving chorus by listening to the samples recorded by some incredible child singers
When your child is ready, click the yellow “Record the Chorus” button on child4child.com to record your child’s version of the chorus

Pass the word along and help make this hit go viral!
Record your child singing along with BFFs!
Ask your child’s teacher to have the entire class record their voices!
Get your church choir to raise their voices together on the chorus!
Organize a team building event for your child’s sports team and record them all singing together! The possibilities are truly endless!

More about Jahna Lucero

Hello – Adele (Performed By Jahna Lucero) at Mr & Miss Teen Global 2015:

Visit child4child.com and record your voice now. All you need is your webcam. Let’s make a change.

Join Charley Lauren, TeenStar UK Singing Contestant, in raising your voice against childhood cancer:

We need your help to make this happen!

If you are interested in adding your child’s voice to this amazing chorus, here’s what to do:

Go to child4child.com
Learn the very simple, moving chorus by listening to the samples recorded by some incredible child singers
When your child is ready, click the yellow “Record the Chorus” button on child4child.com to record your child’s version of the chorus

Pass the word along and help make this hit go viral!
Record your child singing along with BFFs!
Ask your child’s teacher to have the entire class record their voices!
Get your church choir to raise their voices together on the chorus!
Organize a team building event for your child’s sports team and record them all singing together! The possibilities are truly endless!

More by Charley Lauren

Visit child4child.com and record your voice now. All you need is your webcam. Let’s make a change.

Join Robbie Firmin, from the show Britain’s Got Talent, in raising your voice against childhood cancer:

We need your help to make this happen!

If you are interested in adding your child’s voice to this amazing chorus, here’s what to do:

Go to child4child.com
Learn the very simple, moving chorus by listening to the samples recorded by some incredible child singers
When your child is ready, click the yellow “Record the Chorus” button on child4child.com to record your child’s version of the chorus

Pass the word along and help make this hit go viral!
Record your child singing along with BFFs!
Ask your child’s teacher to have the entire class record their voices!
Get your church choir to raise their voices together on the chorus!
Organize a team building event for your child’s sports team and record them all singing together! The possibilities are truly endless!

More about Robbie Firmin

Robbie Firmin – Britain’s Got Talent 2011 audition: