“Reason this person is a Gold Ribbon Hero: September is CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH. My son Matthew was diagnosed with ALL (acute lymphoblastic leukemia) shortly after his 4th birthday. He was treated at Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh for 3 years. Today he is 18 and remains in remission. This year I nominated Shriner’s Hospital for Children in Erie for a Golden Ribbon Hero Award. Matthew was misdiagnosed for 6 months after his symptoms started… he was getting worse by the day and not better so my gut told me something was not right and I chose to get a second opinion. Shriner’s was that second opinion and within a couple of hours of several doctors doing tests on Matthew I heard the words NO mother would ever want to hear “I’m sorry, but your child has CANCER” My heart sank and we were off to Pittsburgh the next morning to start chemo. I can’t thank Shriner’s Hospital in Erie enough for being that one blessing of many that helped save Matthew’s life. THANK YOU!!! Shriner’s Children’s Hospital of Erie….YOU ARE my Golden Ribbon Hero wink emoticon xoxoxoxo” – Nicole M.