Pediatric cancer—the cancer that no one talks about
WHEN I CREATED CANCER CONNECTION NWO, INC. IN 2008 as a result of my own family’s cancer experience, it never even crossed my mind that children are also diagnosed with cancer. It was not until the mother of young Tylee reached out to us in 2010 that I really began learning about pediatric cancer. Tylee was a beautiful two-year-old diagnosed with leukemia. In spite of a transplant, at the age of 6, she lost her life.
One in 43 children in the US will be diagnosed with cancer. When a child has cancer, the whole family has cancer. We have witnessed time and time again the effects of pediatric cancer on a family. Typically, one or both parents have to quit their jobs. Even with insurance, the out-of-pocket expenses for hospital stays and treatment are enormous. A lot of families also end up traveling to other states, such as New York, so that their child can participate in clinical trials. Traveling incurs costs for gas as well as for housing. In addition to the financial impact, the emotional impact of childhood cancer on a family is devastating. Additionally, the availability of treatment options for children are minimal. In 2020 alone, 21 new treatments were found for adult cancers, compared to only 2 for pediatric cancers.
As the only nonprofit organization with a specialized children’s program, we are the first and foremost in this area to offer the specialized support services that these families need. Because every family’s experience is different, our Kids Konnection™ program provides the services specific to each little patient and their family. Financial assistance, navigation, advocacy, gas cards, holiday assistance, referrals to resources, emotional support, and more are just some of the services that our program offers.
We have served 54 children with cancer since 2010. Six of them have gained their wings—one within the past week. These patients and families need the support of the community.
I admit that I took for granted the health of my own three children and cannot fathom the trauma that these families experience. We need to begin talking about this! We have a responsibility to these children to bring more awareness to childhood cancer and its effects.
Everyone knows what the pink ribbon stands for—now you know what the gold ribbon stands for!
Jean Schoen is the founder and president of Cancer Connection of Northwest Ohio, Inc. (419-725-1100). ✲
