In early 2013, treatment was cancelled without warning for several Arizona children receiving care at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. No alternative plans were offered for essential life / sight saving therapy. The families approached Daisy’s Eye Cancer Fund for help. Read on to find out how we worked on their behalf to protect the children’s access to high quality on-going care.
11 years ago, a new baby girl was born in Botswana. Four short years later, retinoblastoma claimed her life. Her name means love, and today, her legacy continues to build hope for other children around the world.
The earlier cancer is diagnosed, the easier it is to treat, often requiring less intense therapy and fewer invasive procedures that have lower cost physically, emotionally and financially. Awareness of childhood cancer is key to achieving early diagnosis, saving lives and limiting the burden of cancer treatment on the child, family and wider society.
As a survivor of bilateral retinoblastoma, I am challenged to be supportive of dear friends facing their own second cancer journey, without being swamped by fear for my own future. I imagine this is a similar balancing act for parents whose children are in treatment now, as social media increasingly brings us into contact with families struggling to access appropriate care for their child.
Recently, a number of people have asked why we promote the childhood cancer gold ribbon and not a ribbon uniquely for retinoblastoma. This is a good question – here are our three key reasons…
I thought I had a fair understanding of the difficulties faced by families whose children have cancer in a developing country, The visit opened my eyes to an entirely different world. Spending time with the families in Fiji really brought home to me the harsh realities of this situation.
Our child life leaders are excited to be bringing child life skills to the children they care for. Their knowledge, vision and dedication will enrich paediatric health care and children’s lives beyond measure.
