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Daisy and Rati

Welcome to World Eye Cancer Hope

Retinoblastoma is an aggressive eye cancer affecting babies and young children.  It kills 7,000 youngsters each year, and blinds many more.

The most common early sign of childhood eye cancer is a white glow in the pupil of the affected eye.  The cancer is easy to diagnose and when treated early, is very curable.

Suffering and death is highest in developing countries, where most affected children live and timely access to specialist cancer care is limited.  In developed countries, cure is above 96%, but most children experience moderate, severe or complete vision loss.  Globally, children, families and survivors experience significant emotional trauma.

Inspired by
Daisy & Rati

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In Your Country

WE C Hope for all children with eye cancer, families & survivors.

Baby with one white pupil and one red pupilIncreasing access to specialist care will bring the promise of life and sight to every child, and improved life-long health to survivors. This is our mission. We:

  • Educate the public and medical community about retinoblastoma to achieve early diagnosis and rapid referral to specialist care
  • Empower medical teams to deliver sustainable high quality evidence-based care for affected children and adult survivors.
  • Enable family support programs that reduce practical and emotional burdens and improve access to essential care

Families, Survivors, Specialists: Join an Rb Community Event

Two children wearing t-shirts that read "eye wear gold" are pictured alongside text information about upcoming events. Info repeated in website text.

WE C Hope hosts events for our global Rb community, from virtual child life activity sessions and relaxing family days, to major collaboratve meetings that unite us all to share knowledge and move care forward together.

Read about our upcoming events in California, Texas, and the Washington D.C. metro area.  Find programs and event preparation resources, and register. Please join us to connect with others who share your experience and desire that all children, survivors and families have the best care possible.

Read our Comprehensive 12 Step Guide to Making Treatment Decisions

Text reads “Retinoblastoma Treatment Decisions 12 Step Guide”. The background is a blue painted wood table. To the right of the text, a pen rests on the blank open page of a notebook. Around the notebook sits a pair of glasses, a cup of coffee, and a small plant with green leaves.

Parents face many decisions about their child’s retinoblastoma treatment. Recognizing the complexity of this highly emotive and stressful experience, we’ve created a comprehensive guide to making treatment decisions.

This 12 step tool will help parents navigate the decision making process, and make the best choices at every stage of their child’s eye cancer journey.Read the Treatment Decision Making Guide.

Support Kids During Needle Related Procedures

Kenyan Child Life Specialist, Jayne Kamau, distracts a young patient with a meteor shower toy while a nurse inserts an IV in her hand.

Only 5% of children have support for immunization needle pain. Seriously ill children experience many needle related procedures, rarely with adequate pain support. But pain and distress can be managed and reduced.

Visit our Needle Related Procedures guide to find supports for children of all ages.  Parents, ask how to manage your child’s pain. Healthcare providers, please give parents options. Learn how to make needles easier and safer for everyone.

WE C Hope Blog

A family gathers around a picnic table for this photo. Some are sitting, some standing, all smiling. Several people are wearing childhood cancer awareness gold ribbons and t-shirts. One girl’s t-shirt reads “I am a fighter; childhood cancer awareness”. The stick part of the letter H in “fighter” is replaced by a gold ribbon. ¬¬¬¬¬¬Across the table, a young child’s t-shirt bears another gold ribbon, and the words “for my sister”. A woman stands behind wearing a t-shirt with a big gold ribbon printed over a repeated series of words in various fonts – the words include “fighter, warrior, brave, believe, courage, hope, love”.

Sun and Smiles Shine at the 5th Annual Southern California Retinoblastoma Family Day

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In-person contact with other families and survivors affected by childhood eye cancer is life-changing. On November 5th, World Eye Cancer Hope USA hosted 80 retinoblastoma community members for a picnic party in glorious fall sunshine.  Marissa D. Gonzalez, bilateral Rb survivor, and President and founding board member of WE C Hope USA, shares highlights from the day of sunshine and smiles.
Tall trees reach towards one another in a park, forming a bright golden canopy. Below, a carpet of red and gold leaves covers the ground.

Gratitude, its Benefits, Toxic Positivity, and How to Feel Grateful in Hard Times

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Gratitude may be one of the best ways we can support our health and wellbeing. But it’s much more than giving thanks. It isn’t easy when we’re living with cancer and its effects, and used in the wrong way, it can do much harm. In the first of two posts, Rb survivor Abby White explores what gratitude is, what it is not, the benefits, and how we can practice gratitude – even in tough times.
A lantern with heart-shaped window casts a large rosy heart glow on a blue painted wooden wall, and a pool of light across the floor where it sits.

The Gratitude Gap and 10 Ways to Practice Gratitude

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Gratitude is potent self-care. In part 2 of our Gratitude deep-dive, Rb survivor Abby White explores “the gratitude gap” – a big challenge that’s easy to overcome when we know about it. Plus how this knowledge can help children develop gratitude skills early. And 10 varied ways to practice and strengthen gratitude year-round, during the Holidays, and even in hard times.
A faded portrait of a toddler Marissa and her grandmother, sitting together on outdoor steps.

Living With Vision Loss: Challenges and Changing Perspectives

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For many survivors of bilateral retinoblastoma, vision changes throughout life. This may be due to treatment late effects, eye health, or other medical events. World Eye Cancer Hope USA President and founding board member, Marissa D. Gonzalez, recounts her journey with vision loss during two different seasons of life, and her difficult course with acquired blindness as an adult after decades of good sight.

Photographers

A baby has one red pupil and one white pupul - the classic early sign of eye cancer in children.

Know The Glow!

Learn about the most common early sign of childhood eye cancer – a white reflection in the pupil, seen in dim light and flash photos. Find out how to take photos to check for signs of serious eye disease in children.

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Parents & Survivors

Find Hope

We offer the Retinoblastoma Resource to supplement information provided by your medical team, answer questions and concerns about all aspects of life with Rb, increase understanding and share hope.

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Family & Friends

How You Can Help

Forget “let me know if I can do anything to help”! Carefully considered and offered support will be truly valued.  We have many suggestions from parents that have brought families relief, joy and hope.

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Give Hope

Sun reflects gold on Daisy's hair as she smiles and laughs while clutching a big bunch of daisies.

Help Change Lives!

There are so many ways you can help us bring hope of cure and better quality of life to children with eye cancer, families and survivors.  Donate online now, or become a fundraising angel. Together, WE C Hope!

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Help us bring hope of life and sight to every child with eye cancer

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