Retinoblastoma took center stage March 17-21, 2026 when 500 ocular oncologists, allied professionals, and patient advocates gathered on the shores of Rio de Janeiro for the International Society of Ocular Oncology conference. Marissa D. Gonzalez, President and Founding Board Member of World Eye Cancer Hope USA, shares highlights and reflections from four days of community, collaboration, and progress.
Having medical procedures can be tough for children, especially when many are repeated during a long course of medical care. Though necessary, they do not need to be painful. Maria Sohail, child life intern and Masters Candidate in Child Life and Pediatric Psychosocial Care, explores a range of pain management strategies that can support a child’s mind and body comfort.
Parents and survivors shared their thoughts on the “Through Our Eyes” wall at the One Rb World meeting in Washington D.C., 9-11 October 2017. These powerful insights were gathered anonymously via this website during September 2017, and highlight wide-ranging concerns.
One Retinoblastoma World is community, conversation, and collaboration in action. Families, survivors, and professionals unite to share knowledge and lived experience, shaping lifelong Rb care and support. WE C Hope CEO, Abby White, and WE C Hope USA President, Marissa D. Gonzalez, both Rb survivors, explore why being together in San Antonio this September matters so deeply for all in our community.
Living with the daily effects of childhood eye cancer can be overwhelming, for all family members. Both the immediate crisis of diagnosis and treatment, and the long-term impacts and risks. Child Life Intern and Student Teacher, Meagan Fuller, highlights some simple mindfulness techniques parents and children can use to ease daily tension.
Infants experience a wide range of emotions, the depths of which are just beginning to be understood. Morgan Livingstone CCLS discusses how the external environment influences infant mental health, and the varied ways parents and medical professionals can help babies cope and thrive through medical interventions.
Retinoblastoma genetics are complex. Their implications for medical care can be confusing for families and professionals alike. For World DNA Day, Rb survivor and WE C Hope co-founder / CEO, Abby White, considers the central importance of DNA and genetic knowledge in caring for the child and family, during treatment and throughout life.
Can the language we use impact patient well-being, conduct of research and care? WE C Hope CEO and retinoblastoma survivor, Abby White, explores the effect of scientists, doctors and reporters referring to retinoblastoma patients as “cases” rather than children, and how our One Rb World community helps create a foundation of care that nurtures complete well-being.
The final moments of the 7th One Rb World Conference in Honolulu, Hawaii, were dedicated to patients, families, and survivors, showcasing how empowering them can transform their individual experience and collective progress. Marissa D. Gonzalez, President of World Eye Cancer Hope USA, and Conference Event Chair, tells of the inspiring child life programming, and groundbreaking patient engaged-research building bridges of hope and healing for our retinoblastoma community worldwide.
As the 7th One Rb World Conference in Honolulu, Hawaii, reached its final hours, personal insights and global initiatives took center stage. Marissa D. Gonzalez, President of World Eye Cancer Hope USA, and Conference Event Chair, reflects on the collective mission to save lives, including The New York Times Opinion feature, “It Takes a Lifetime to Survive Childhood Cancer,” – and the story behind the article.
