ambassadors

“I don’t need to be reminded of how terrible it is when a child is sick,” writes Bill Gerber, St. Baldrick’s board member and father to 2012 Ambassador Teddy. Read on for why this cancer dad is tired of seeing sad cancer commercials — and how St. Baldrick’s is giving his family hope.

Teddy was one of St. Baldrick’s 2012 Ambassadors.

I’m watching TV and a sad commercial comes on. A young child with no hair, gaunt and weak, hooked up to an IV. A solemn voice is about to ask me for money.

I turn the channel.

I don’t need to be reminded of how terrible it is when a child is sick. My son Teddy died in my arms from childhood cancer.

Read more »

It’s been over three years since 2012 Ambassador Sarah has seen herself bald. She’s breaking that streak on Saturday to be a shavee℠ for the third time. As a childhood cancer survivor, Sarah writes about what bravery looks like to her and what makes shaving so special this time.

Sarah (left) smiles with Honored Kid Abby at Camp Fantastic in 2015.

I’m often asked if I’m nervous about my upcoming shave.

I can honestly say I’m not at all. After all, this will be my third time shaving my head for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation!

The usual response I get is, “You’re so brave.” But I don’t see myself as the brave one.

Read more »

2015 Ambassador Daisy relapsed with medulloblastoma in September 2015. Since then, she’s been through surgery, radiation and chemo. Then she went in for scans to see if the treatment was working. Daisy’s mom, Natalie, shares the results.

Daisy smiles as her mom, Natalie, gives her a kiss.

It had been 92 days since we heard the devastating news of Daisy’s relapse of medulloblastoma. Her brain and spine MRI was only a few days away, and emotions were high.

Her doctor at the children’s hospital told us that if the scan showed any progression of disease, treatment would stop. Our beautiful 9-year-old daughter would be put on palliative care.

How could words like that sink in?

Read more »

This is part two of a two-part series where Chase’s mom, Ellie, explains the surprising results of Chase’s neuropsychology evaluation, and how their family is coping with the lasting effects of his brain tumor. Read part one >

I marvel at how so many cancer parents know exactly where their child’s tumor was located in the brain. I am not one of those parents.

I asked some other crazy and weird stuff at the time of his diagnosis, but I never asked exactly where the tumor was located. At 6 centimeters with midline shift and tumor cell metastasis, it seemed to be everywhere.

Which is why it stopped me dead in my tracks to realize for the first time in three years that Chase’s tumor decimated his language center.

Did you hear that? Chase shouldn’t be able to talk.

Read more »

Earlier this month, Chase went for a neuropsychology evaluation. His mom, Ellie, explains the events leading up to it, the news that stunned them, and how they plan to navigate the lasting effects of his brain tumor.

Chase smiles with his parents, Ellie and Bob.

As he stood before me, he nodded somewhat unwillingly. “OK, fine. Just one picture.”

Chase was going to “his hospital,” and he was going as a pirate. Because nothing says “this is who I am” like a pirate costume.

Read more »

2012 Ambassador Sarah and her fiancé, Patrick, have been through a lot in their seven years together. Read how they conquered Sarah’s childhood cancer together and the love that endured through it all.

Sarah and Patrick smile with their dog, Oswald.

“It was like our eyes locked and the world sort of shifted.”

That’s how Sarah recalls the day she met her fiancé, Patrick, 10 years ago.

Read more »

Last year, Chase’s mom, Ellie, wrote about the special relationship between Chase and his older brother, Aidan. Now she shares this sweet story of how these two boys touched by childhood cancer continue to support each other through life’s trials, big and small.

Chase (left) watches his big brother, Aidan, in the doctor’s office.

“OK, let’s just get your temperature and then you’ll be done.” The nurse turned from the blood pressure cuff attached to Aidan’s skinny arm and grabbed the thermometer, shoving it into a sanitary plastic sheath with a soft click.

“Open wide… under your tongue… now close.”

Read more »

Birthdays are a time of celebration for most kids — a big party with presents, cake and balloons. But for Ambassador Cheyenne and her family, her upcoming birthday holds much more meaning. Read on to see what Cheyenne’s mom, Amy, is reflecting on this year.

I’ve always thought of birthdays as a momentous occasion to celebrate life. With Cheyenne’s 11th birthday coming up, a little more than one year after her childhood cancer diagnosis, this celebration of life is taking on an entirely new meaning.

Read more »

Phineas has a long list of things he loves. The 7-year-old loves playing with Legos, riding his mountain bike, eating pizza and junk food (when his mom isn’t looking), and all things monster truck.

Read more »

Holden loved every minute of life. He was relentless in his pursuit of being a “normal” kid, even during intense treatment for Wilms tumor — riding the bus, going to first grade, playing baseball, being a friend.

Read more »