Hope, Strength, and Healing for families coping with a child cancer diagnosis

DREAM BIG. NEVER GIVE UP. LOVE ON ONE ANOTHER.

DREAM BIG. NEVER GIVE UP. LOVE ON ONE ANOTHER.

These common themes transcended family activities held in September to honor Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. At our first ever, Plant Party Nite hosted by Team Giving, families were able to creatively customize their very own miniature landscape garden with colored sand, succulents, pebbles, small statues and more!

The following week, Teen Game Night hosted by Chicago Fire Roseville, included games such as cup stacking, pencil flipping, and charades which allowed kids to take a break from their treatment and simply enjoy “being kids”.

Children kicked off their Saturday morning by enjoying an obstacle course by Team Wade Fitness with the goal of motivating kids to stay active and to focus on their dreams. The fitness routine was followed by a Sushiology course hosted by Mikuni Roseville. Kids not only learned about sushi but they had a chance to make (and eat) their very own sushi rolls!

Lastly, a morning at Fairytale Town brought younger children together to encourage their imagination and love for play! Families joined together for a lunch sponsored by Chick-fil A – Arden Fair and connected via stories and experiences.

CONNECTIONS. FAMILY. COMMUNITY.

The Family Navigator Program connects families on the childhood cancer journey to provide a supportive community. No child or family should ever have to go through this experience alone. By providing these opportunities, children, siblings, parents/guardian are encouraged to speak to others they can relate to as a means of providing HOPE, STRENGTH, and HEALING.

With Special Thanks to

Meet Keaton’s Kiddo – MJ

May of 2021 started like any other month. Our family was enjoying the warm weather and spending time with friends and family. Unfortunately, May was the month that our world would change in a way we never expected.

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Meet Keaton’s Kiddo – Yazmine

During the week of July 17th, 2023, Yazmine hadn’t been herself.  She’d been running fevers on and off and wasn’t eating.  She had no energy and only wanted to sleep.  Then, on July 19th, her dad’s birthday, we decided that I would take her to the ER for a quick check up and be back in time to make a birthday dinner.  Little did we know everything would change on that day.  

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Meet Keaton’s Kiddo – Kodiak

In the Fall of 2023, Keaton’s Kiddo Kodiak was diagnosed with two rare and aggressive forms of cancer: Mixed Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) also known as ‘preleukemia.’

Their journey began one year earlier, in the Fall of 2022, when Kodiak was struck with a series of different seasonal illnesses. Kodiak’s mom Tonya shares: “In September, he got COVID, and then in November it was the flu, and then December RSV.”

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