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 – 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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Meet Keaton’s Kiddo – Ellora

Months before a clear diagnosis, Ellora was experiencing a loss of appetite, night sweats, and oversleeping. For Ellora, these symptoms were seen as normal for her or seen as natural changes in the growth of a 2-year-old. Eventually, she developed little spots on her hands and unexplained bruises on her body, which the doctors deemed Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), but after seeing an informative TikTok video on the symptoms Ellora was experiencing, her mom’s gut told her it was something more than a bleeding disorder.

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Meet Keaton’s Kiddo – Samerah

14-year-old Samerah, best known as Sam has been battling quite the challenging journey, but with the love and support of her family, friends, and community she has been able to overcome so much. At the very young age of 2 months old, Sam was diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis. Neurofibromatosis is not an isolated disorder. It causes several different conditions and can lead to the development of tumors on the brain, spine, and the nerves that send signals between the brain and spinal cord.

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