Meet Keaton Kiddo ~ Camila

Although Mom shared there have been several difficult moments, positivity and optimism are what keep her going. She has been there for Camila every step of the way and encourages Camila to remain strong and not let anything hold her back from setting goals and achieving her dreams.

Recently, our Family Navigator Team at Keaton’s had the pleasure of meeting Camila and hand-delivered a hope chest for her and her siblings. They expressed so much gratitude and shared how thankful they are for Keaton’s ongoing support. To contribute with their commutes for treatment, our team was happy to provide Arco gas cards and also gave Camila’s family a financial grant to support with other expenses. As with all families in our program, our hope was to alleviate some stress so that Camila and her family can focus solely on her treatment.

We truly enjoy meeting our Keaton Kiddos and their loved ones, and offering multiple types of support as families endure their childhood cancer journey, a battle that no one should fight alone!

Meet beautiful Camila, a sweet and kind 14-year old who loves to hang out with friends, and spend time with her family. On July 28th, 2021, Camila was unfortunately diagnosed with a rare Ovarian Tumor called Sex Cord-Stromal Tumor (SCST). Although this type of tumor is found present in a broad age group of girls and women, it is very rare and represents only 7% of all primary ovarian tumors. Despite this rare diagnosis and challenges that come with any pediatric cancer, Camila has remained resilient and is not letting her diagnosis stop her from shining.

After a year of online learning, Camila has recently returned to in-person school and is so excited to be back. While meeting with our Navigator team, Camila shared how much she missed being in school as well as how much she enjoys it and is having fun being around her friends again. Along with being social, Camila gets the most out of her education and dedicates herself to learning. She even got 100% on her first exam!

Entering the world of childhood cancer has been hard on Camila and her family. Her mom shared that with a language barrier, she has experienced some challenges connecting with professionals for Camila’s medical treatment. Fortunately, bilingual staff at Keaton’s and at Camila’s treatment hospital has supported mom with this and will continue to be of support throughout Camila’s journey.

Meet Keaton’s Kiddo – Pedro

Facing the reality of three brain surgeries and years of chemotherapy, Keaton’s Teen Alliance Warrior, Pedro, embarked on a tumultuous journey that transformed him in ways he never anticipated.

In the summer of 2021, Pedro’s life took an unexpected and challenging turn. At just 14 years old, he was diagnosed with a juvenile brain tumor, known as “pilocytic astrocytoma”, a type of brain tumor that can occur in any area where astrocytes are present. While the tumor itself was benign, its size and location necessitated a rigorous regimen of surgical and chemical treatments.

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Meet Keaton’s Kiddo – Gianna

Meet Keaton’s Kiddo, Gianna, a smart and beautiful 7-year-old who enjoys arts, music, and playing outside. In March of 2022, when Gianna was just four years old, her family received the devastating news that she was diagnosed with B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), a form of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow, leading to the rapid production of immature white blood cells. For a young child like Gianna, the diagnosis was a harrowing journey that would test her resilience and the strength of her family.

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September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

This September, we unite for one purpose: to bring hope, strength, and healing to children battling cancer and their families. Every 3 minutes, a family’s life is turned upside down when they hear the four devastating words, “Your child has cancer.” At Keaton’s Child Cancer Alliance, we believe that every child deserves a fighting chance – and you can help make that a reality.

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