The Childhood Cancer Blog
The Childhood Cancer Blog
Ben Cartafalsa, Dad to childhood cancer hero Ryan and SuperSibs Emily and Meghan, husband to Trish
Paul Matz, Dad to childhood cancer hero Ellie and SuperSibs Rebecca and Lillah, husband to Miriam
Tony Salerno, Dad to childhood cancer hero Tony and SuperSib Samantha
Jay Scott, Dad to ALSF founder and childhood cancer hero Alex and SuperSibs Patrick, Eddie and Joey
Cas Banaszek, Dad to childhood cancer hero C.J. and SuperSib Gabby
Bill Roberts, Dad to childhood cancer hero Declan and SuperSibs Brendan and Tommy
Scott Littlefield, Dad to childhood cancer hero Lucille and SuperSibs Estella, Mara, and Olive
Rod McKee, Dad to childhood cancer hero Jake and SuperSib Kiana
Steve Cassabria, Dad to childhood cancer hero Nico, SuperSibs Sophia, Ava and Nina, husband to Stephanie
Jim Butler, Dad to childhood cancer hero Jimmy and SuperSibs Cass and Chris
Nick Butkus, Dad to childhood cancer hero Jaxson and SuperSibs Domnick and Joey
Mike Adkins, Dad to childhood cancer hero Lily and SuperSibs Chloe and Nicholas
Mike Markham, Dad is childhood cancer hero Lakelynn
Bill Fitzgerald. Dad to childhood cancer hero Cole and SuperSibs Maeve and Maggie, Husband to Keren
Rick Knowles, Dad to childhood cancer hero Frankie and SuperSib Brooklyn
Britt Talley, Dad to childhood cancer hero Elijah and SuperSib Hannah, Husband to Dawn
Sometimes, I think Dads don’t get the credit they deserve. You cannot ever discount the therapeutic power of Dad jokes or how it seems like they can lift absolutely anything, no matter how heavy. Childhood cancer Dads do a lot of heavy lifting. They show up at clinic appointments. They work endlessly to provide for their families. They advocate and show up at meetings at school. They build backyard forts and lemonade stands.
My own husband is the one who worked endlessly to teach our daughter, Lily, to walk after she had a brain tumor when she was 14 months old. Mike took Lily and... Read More
Alex painting her stand in 2004.
Liz and Alex at Alex's Original in 2004.
Since the beginning, the community always came out for Alex.
Alex with her Dad, Jay.
No one knew that Alex's first stand would kick off a movement to cure childhood cancer.
This weekend, we should have been holding our stand in Alex's memory in our neighborhood.
For 20 years, this has been our annual family tradition. Of course, the first year, in 2000, we did not know it would be our annual tradition, or that her little front yard stand would become her legacy -- one that has raised more than $250 million to find a cure for other kids with cancer.
There was so much we did not know then: like how many more years Alex would fight; that her treatment would take our family to Philadelphia where we would raise our kids; that her story would... Read More
Lakelynn was 3 years old when she was diagnosed with a rare sarcoma. Now, Lakelynn is 6 years old and her tumor is stable.
Edie was just 6 months old when she was diagnosed with neuroblastoma. Today, Edie is celebrating her 11th birthday, cancer-free.
Zach was 5 years old when he battled a rare form of anaplastic large cell lymphoma. Zach is now 15 years old and cancer-free.
Taylor was 11 years old when osteosarcoma entered her life. Today, Taylor is 25 years old, cancer-free and celebrating her 1st year of marriage
Eden was 10 years old when doctors discovered a cancer so rare it had no name. Today, Eden is 15 years old and that rare cancer is gone.
When Lakelynn was first diagnosed with a rare tumor, her family was given no options for treatment. Then genomic testing revealed that Lakelynn’s tumor harbored an NTRK gene fusion. Within 48 hours of learning more about Lakelynn’s diagnosis, the family headed to Boston to see Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF)-funded researcher Dr. Steven Dubois.
Dr. Dubois was leading a trial for a drug called larotrectinib, which showed promise for kids like Lakelynn, who were battling cancer with the NTRK fusion. The trial worked. Lakelynn’s tumor shrunk and remains stable. Now, Lakelynn... Read More
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