The Childhood Cancer Blog

The Childhood Cancer Blog

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

Leslie, with her daughter Lakelynn and husband Michael.

My name is Leslie. My daughter Lakelynn is 6 years old. Her smile and wild hair say it all: my girl is full of joy and silliness. Her smile lights up the room and her energy is contagious.   When you look at my daughter, you'd never guess that she misses three days of school every month for childhood cancer treatment.  

Lakelynn was just 3 years old when unexplained pain in her arm led to the diagnosis of a rare sarcoma tumor. The tumor was inoperable. Radiation was too dangerous. There was not a standard chemotherapy... Read More

  • “Never in a million years did I think my kid would have cancer," said Kim, whose son Matteo was diagnosed at 6 months old with kidney cancer.
    “Never in a million years did I think my kid would have cancer," said Kim, whose son Matteo was diagnosed at 6 months old with kidney cancer.
  • “Having a child with cancer changes you. You breathe deeper, love harder, forgive more. Is it hard? Absolutely. By far it’s the hardest thing I have ever faced as a parent,” said Tina, mom to Kensley, who was diagnosed with leukemia in May 2019.
    “Having a child with cancer changes you. You breathe deeper, love harder, forgive more. Is it hard? Absolutely. By far it’s the hardest thing I have ever faced as a parent,” said Tina, mom to Kensley, who was diagnosed with leukemia in May 2019.
  • “I believe research saves lives and I do not want to see any more children die from cancer,” said Angie. Angie’s daughter, Sara, died when she was 18 years old from relapsed germinoma.
    “I believe research saves lives and I do not want to see any more children die from cancer,” said Angie. Angie’s daughter, Sara, died when she was 18 years old from relapsed germinoma.

The night before Matteo was diagnosed with a rare pediatric kidney cancer, his mom, Kim stayed up late baking cookies for an upcoming lemonade stand at Power Home Remodeling to support Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.

“Never in a million years did I think my kid would have cancer. We knew about childhood cancer. We were aware. But we did not think it would be us,” said Kim.

Everyday, 47 children are diagnosed with childhood cancer. A childhood cancer diagnosis brings with it fear,... Read More

Sixteen years ago, when I did not even know what USC was, or any university for that matter, I was diagnosed with cancer—tumors called astrocytoma were in my spine. I was just 2 years old at diagnosis, so my treatment and recovery plan was naturally placed in the hands of my parents. From that point forward, I lived with and relied on two adults who knew more about my condition than I did.  

For my four long years of high school, I woke up at 5:30 every morning to go to swim practice and then stayed up late nearly every night to finish my chemistry homework. I desperately wanted to get into my dream school, the University of Southern California (USC), nearly 3,000 miles away from my home in Connecticut. And then, I got my acceptance letter — reaching my long-awaited goal. Yet, my struggles were far from over.

I walked into my dorm room for the first time last August and, to the outside world, I looked like any other eager, nervous 18-year-old, ready to start her... Read More

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