The Boy Who Gave Back: Liam’s Story
Liam Webb gave great hugs, told the best knock-knock jokes, and would have probably been an extraordinary rock climber one day, considering his love of scaling trees and fences. Read on for more about this amazing kid and why his parents love St. Baldrick’s and the research we fund.
Liam and his dad strike a superhero pose.
Liam was an adventurous kid, particularly when it came to climbing. The tree in his front yard drew the boy like a moth to a flame.
Life After Brain Cancer: Isaac’s Late Effects
Ambassador Isaac finished treatment for medulloblastoma almost four years ago. But today, on the five-year anniversary of his diagnosis, the effects of childhood cancer are still evident in his everyday life. Read what his mom, April, has to say about what survivorship looks like for Isaac.
People often say to me, “Move on. Let it go. He’s cancer free. We’re sick of hearing about it.”
Yes, it has been some time since Isaac finished treatment for medulloblastoma on August 24, 2012. He has made tremendous strides, and let’s face it — he’s still here and cancer free.
So why don’t I forget it? Why do I seem forever trapped in this cancer nightmare?
What Is Proton Therapy?
Dr. Ralph Ermoian is a radiation oncologist and St. Baldrick’s infrastructure grant recipient at the University of Washington. He explains what proton therapy is, how it works, and how this treatment is helping kids and adults with cancer.
What is proton therapy?
Proton therapy is a type of radiation used commonly for children with cancer. Like traditional x-ray radiation, it is used to treat cancers, but proton therapy affects less of the healthy tissue surrounding the tumor.
We’ll Miss You, Sweet Avery
On June 13, we learned that 2013 Ambassador Avery passed away.
In loving memory of sweet Avery, forever 13.
“She was peaceful and calm,” wrote her mom, Stephanie, on the Fabulous Team Avery Facebook group earlier today.
Even though we knew Avery was on hospice, the words felt like a sucker punch to the gut. No amount of preparation could have prepared us for the news that childhood cancer claimed the life of a fabulous kid like Avery.
When Things Don’t Go As Planned: Avery’s Unexpected Turn
In our last update on 2013 Ambassador Avery, she was participating in a clinical trial to treat her brain tumor. Today, she’s off the trial and back home on hospice care. Here’s an update on the next chapter in Avery’s story.
2013 Ambassador Avery was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2011.
At the end of last year, after living with a stable brain tumor for two and a half years, 13-year-old Avery was back in the fight against childhood cancer.
When There Is No Relief: An Excerpt From Ellie Ewoldt’s ‘Chase Away Cancer,’ Part 2
This is part two of an excerpt from 2015 Ambassador Chase’s mom’s new book, “Chase Away Cancer.” Read along as she gives an inside look into their family’s life during Chase’s childhood cancer treatment, and then head over to our shop to grab a copy of her book so you can read the rest. 100% of the proceeds from books bought on our shop will help us fund childhood cancer research!
Chase with his parents, Ellie and Bob. Chase was diagnosed with an atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (ATRT) when he was 2 years old.
Missed part 1? Read it here >
Much later, as the night-shift nurses crept into the room, giving medicine and checking on Chase, the usually familiar, comforting sounds changed.
The nurses’ movements became more urgent, and then through a sleep-induced fog, I heard the snap of a switch and light flooded the room.
When Hospital Becomes Home: An Excerpt From Ellie Ewoldt’s ‘Chase Away Cancer,’ Part 1
If you’re like us and you fell in love with Chase as soon as you read his story, you’ll definitely want to grab a copy of his mom’s new book, “Chase Away Cancer.” Read the passage below about Chase’s second day of radiation, and then head over to the St. Baldrick’s shop to buy a copy and read the rest. 100% of your purchase through this link will help us fund lifesaving childhood cancer research.
Chase was diagnosed with an atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (ATRT) when he was 2. Now, he’s 6 years old and stable.
Despite medical intervention, Chase’s fever continued to rise and his heart rate wouldn’t come down. The doctors came and went, talking to us and then stepping out in the hall to phone Chase’s other doctors and make plans.
Chase himself was in fairly good spirits as he’d been given stickers and a comfortable, soft pair of yellow hospital pants, but monitors don’t lie. His heart rate was staying way too high while the fever hovered around 104.
After repeated sessions of consulting with us and stepping into the hallway to get on the phone with Dr. Lulla and Chase’s team, all the white coats concurred: Chase needed to “go home.”
A Symbol of Love: Mateo Goes Bald for His Brother Mason
Mateo and Mason spent their early years of brotherhood playing together and acting goofy. When Mason was diagnosed with a brain tumor, the two brothers stayed strong, bonded by their love for soccer and for each other. This weekend, Mateo, now 16, will be shaving his head in honor of his little brother. Mateo tells his story below.
Mason (right) hugging his big brother Mateo.
I was 6 years old that day in July 2006 when my parents told me we had to go home to the United States because my brother was sick and needed surgery.
We were medically evacuated from Ecuador because my almost-4-year-old brother, Mason, was diagnosed with a brain tumor. It changed all our lives in an instant.
‘I Am’: A Poem by My 8-Year-Old Childhood Cancer Survivor
Honored Kid Kaiden is a happy second grader who loves camping and biking. He’s also a brain tumor survivor. His mom, Amy, thought Kaiden had left childhood cancer in his past — until one day, Kaiden brought home a school assignment that showed her just how much cancer still affects him.
Kaiden and Amy acting goofy. Kaiden, now 8, is six years past his childhood cancer diagnosis.
The other day, my 8-year-old son, Kaiden, brought home a poem he wrote in school. It was a fill-in-the-blank poem with prompts like “I am…,” “I feel…,” and “I wonder….”
His answers were like most in his second grade class: “I am happy,” “I feel good,” “I wonder when my dad will download more apps on my computer again.” Then, halfway down the list, one of his answers stopped me dead in my tracks.
“I worry because I think I might have cancer.”
When a Cure Isn’t a Cure: Zayla’s Story
Honored Kid Zayla was just 3 years old when she was diagnosed with leukemia. After intense treatment, she graduated to survivor. But it didn’t last. The treatments she’d received to save her life caused a secondary cancer — a brain tumor — years later. Read on to learn more about Zayla, her fighting spirit, and why her family supports childhood cancer research.
Update: On the evening of March 30th, Zayla passed away, surrounded by her family. Our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.
What do you do when you get cancer from the very treatment that saved your life from cancer?
You keep fighting like a girl.
That’s 14-year-old Zayla’s motto, and that’s what she and her family are doing.
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