The Childhood Cancer Blog

The Childhood Cancer Blog

Welcome to The Childhood Cancer Blog
from Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation!

  • SuperSib Cass Butler made the decision to become a nurse when she was 10 years old.
    SuperSib Cass Butler made the decision to become a nurse when she was 10 years old.
  • Then and Now: Cass was just 10 years old, when her brother Jimmy was diagnosed with leukemia.
    Then and Now: Cass was just 10 years old, when her brother Jimmy was diagnosed with leukemia.

When her brother Jimmy was being treated for leukemia, a nurse showed Cass Butler how a blood transfusion worked and let Cass pretend to be a nurse too.

In that moment, Cass, who was just 10-years-old, decided she’d become a nurse when she grew up.

Today, that decision has become a reality. Cass is 23 years old and a nurse working with COVID-19 patients in Erie, Pennsylvania. 

Her journey to nursing began with her 7-year-old brother’s routine bloodwork, which revealed he had myelodysplastic syndrome that had evolved into leukemia. Cass spent the night with her... Read More

  • Lauren Boerlin, mom to childhood cancer hero Nate and SuperSibs Alaina, Maria and Myles
    Lauren Boerlin, mom to childhood cancer hero Nate and SuperSibs Alaina, Maria and Myles
  • Liz Scott, with her son Patrick
    Liz Scott, with her son Patrick
  • Miriam Matz, mom to childhood cancer hero Ellie and SuperSibs Rebecca and Lillah
    Miriam Matz, mom to childhood cancer hero Ellie and SuperSibs Rebecca and Lillah
  • Leslie Markham, mom to childhood cancer hero Lakelynn
    Leslie Markham, mom to childhood cancer hero Lakelynn
  • Beth Robertson, mom to childhood cancer hero Cameron and SuperSibs Skye and Emma 
    Beth Robertson, mom to childhood cancer hero Cameron and SuperSibs Skye and Emma 
  • Dina Dodd (Left) Mom to childhood cancer hero Owen and Super Sib Waverly. Brenda Brelje (right), mom to childhood cancer hero Beau and SuperSibs Nicholas, Jessica and Bailey
    Dina Dodd (Left) Mom to childhood cancer hero Owen and Super Sib Waverly. Brenda Brelje (right), mom to childhood cancer hero Beau and SuperSibs Nicholas, Jessica and Bailey
  • Emily Gilger, mom to childhood cancer hero Edie and SuperSib Kinsey
    Emily Gilger, mom to childhood cancer hero Edie and SuperSib Kinsey
  • Trish Cartafalsa, mom to childhood cancer hero Ryan and SuperSibs Emily and Meghan
    Trish Cartafalsa, mom to childhood cancer hero Ryan and SuperSibs Emily and Meghan
  • Kaky Mullen (Left), mom to childhood cancer hero Grace and SuperSib Emily. Dawn Talley (right), mom to childhood cancer hero Elijah and SuperSib Hannah
    Kaky Mullen (Left), mom to childhood cancer hero Grace and SuperSib Emily. Dawn Talley (right), mom to childhood cancer hero Elijah and SuperSib Hannah
  • Heather Banaszek, mom to childhood cancer hero C.J. and SuperSib Gabby
    Heather Banaszek, mom to childhood cancer hero C.J. and SuperSib Gabby
  • Megan Roberts, mom to childhood cancer hero Declan and SuperSibs Brendan and Tommy
    Megan Roberts, mom to childhood cancer hero Declan and SuperSibs Brendan and Tommy
  • Keren Fitzgerald. mom to childhood cancer hero Cole and SuperSibs Maeve and Maggie
    Keren Fitzgerald. mom to childhood cancer hero Cole and SuperSibs Maeve and Maggie
  • ALSF founder and childhood cancer hero Alex Scott and her SuperSibs Patrick, Eddie and Joey
    ALSF founder and childhood cancer hero Alex Scott and her SuperSibs Patrick, Eddie and Joey
  • Mary Hollway, mom to childhood cancer hero Molly Hollway and SuperSibs Mike and Billy
    Mary Hollway, mom to childhood cancer hero Molly Hollway and SuperSibs Mike and Billy
  • Amy Mulford, mom to childhood cancer hero Brooke
    Amy Mulford, mom to childhood cancer hero Brooke
  • Karen Salerno, mom to childhood cancer hero Tony and SuperSib Samantha
    Karen Salerno, mom to childhood cancer hero Tony and SuperSib Samantha
  • Danielle Gallagher, mom to childhood cancer hero Caroline and SuperSib Charlotte
    Danielle Gallagher, mom to childhood cancer hero Caroline and SuperSib Charlotte
  • Kimberly Vitale, mom to childhood cancer hero Matteo and SuperSibs Christopher, Luca, Frankie and Lucia 
    Kimberly Vitale, mom to childhood cancer hero Matteo and SuperSibs Christopher, Luca, Frankie and Lucia 

I have some of the best mom friends around. It is a constantly growing group — some of them I’ve known for 13 years, others I met just last week. But no matter how long we’ve been mom friends, the glue that holds us together is the very thing that constantly threatens to tear us apart:

Childhood cancer. 

My daughter was diagnosed 13 years ago with a brain tumor called ependymoma. Lily was 14 months old. I barely had been a mother and somehow that all seemed in jeopardy. The moms in my playgroup were lovely, but not one of them could understand what was happening. Then I... Read More

  • Dawn Talley, with her son Elijah Talley. Elijah battled neuroblastoma. 
    Dawn Talley, with her son Elijah Talley. Elijah battled neuroblastoma. 
  •  In the book, Alex and the Amazing Lemonade Stand, there is a picture of a woman on crutches. This character was based on one of Alex Scott’s favorite nurses.
    In the book, Alex and the Amazing Lemonade Stand, there is a picture of a woman on crutches. This character was based on one of Alex Scott’s favorite nurses.

The first week of May is busy around the virtual halls of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) and the social media world. 

Every year, May is the month we go gray and recognize Brain Tumor Awareness Month. During the first week of the month, we celebrate Nurses Week, as well as Teacher Appreciation Week. This year, we also participated in Giving Tuesday Now, asking supporters to help us provide more resources to... Read More

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