EACH YEAR IN THE US, an estimated 15,780 children between the ages of birth and 19 years of age are diagnosed with cancer. This means that approximately one in 285 children in the US will be diagnosed. The National Cancer Institute states that Leukemias (102 cases per year) and brain and other CNS tumors (89 cases per year) accounted for 27 percent and 23 percent of the newly diagnosed cancers in Ohio in the pediatric years (0-19) age group.
Cancer Connection of NW Ohio, Inc. is the only local organization that offers a specialized support program for children with cancer. The Kids Konnection Program is unique to our organization and has served more than 260 pediatric patients and their families in our community since 2010, when our first little patient came to us. Our youngest patient was six months old. Through the Kids Konnection Program, we provide children and their families with a variety of services, including:
1. Personal assessment—a personalized approach to identify the needs of the patient and family so we can provide them with free services.
2. Chemo buddy—an advocate that sits with the child during chemo, utilizing distraction therapy to keep the child’s mind occupied on other things beside their treatment.
3. Monthly check-in phone calls— an important tool to make sure that the family has everything they need.
4. Hand in hand— accompaniment to oncology appointments as a patient advocate, supporter, and friend. 5. Education program—a program specifically designed to educate school-aged children on what cancer is and to help in the process of supporting a classmate, teacher, or family member with a cancer diagnosis.
The Kids Konnection Program helps to anticipate and meet the needs of a family that has a child who has been diagnosed with cancer. Our goal is to improve treatment outcomes for children with cancer by alleviating financial hardship, fear, and loneliness caused by the diagnosis and the resulting stress that it puts on the entire family. Our program offers a one-of-a-kind approach to dealing with every aspect of concern a family may experience when finding out their child is sick. The problem faced by most parents is they have no idea how to navigate through the system or what they even need. The objective of this program is to provide children diagnosed with cancer an environment in which they can grow, thrive, and ultimately beat cancer. One of the ways that we can do this is by providing much-needed guidance and support for the parents, to assist them financially and emotionally while providing for the needs of their entire family. If you or someone you know needs our help, please call us at 419-725-1100.
Jean Schoen is the founder and president of Cancer Connection of Northwest Ohio, Inc. (419-725-1100). ✲
