Childhood Cancer Talk Radio Podcasts

A recent graduate of Syracuse University's School of Photo-Journalism, Moriah Ratner tells the story of the lovely Lola Munoz, a thirteen year old girl afflicted with the deadliest pediatric cancer, DIPG, published within the last year, is truly a work of distinction. Moriah shares with us the process of discovery in this work, as it began simply as the protocol for a class she was involved in--to tell the story of a person. Already attracted to the resilience of young people who have experienced great trauma from her psychology studies, Moriah began this journey with a referral from Make-A-Wish Central New York, unaware of the human drama she would experience and share with the world as a result. She made it her duty to ensure Lola's legacy would endure with grace and integrity, defying stereotypes of pediatric cancer and, most importantly, to create awareness with "the hope of stimulating a call to action." The story has been published in the Washington Post, National Geographic, and NPR.

Debuting this week is also her first videography project about Vivian Rose Weaver Defeat DIPG Foundation in Washington state, also a story about the journey of young Vivian Rose battling DIPG, a production of Oregon Public Broadcasting Network (OPB).

Chance Mazzell and his wife Heather share with us the story of their daughter Olivia and the places DIPG, diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, has led them. Olivia was diagnosed with DIPG on August 28th of 2018; her journey was particularly difficult out of the gate. The Mazzells, from Lexington, South Carolina, are extremely brave to give us this insight into their lives at a most difficult time. Sadly, Olivia passed away in February of this year, before she had the chance to even try ONC201 a medication showing promise in extending the lives of some patients. Chance and Heather bring her legacy to life with their efforts to help make access to promising, experimental medication possible for others in the future.

Sara’s Cure is a grassroots, race-against-time campaign focused on funding critical research to find a cure for Clear Cell Sarcoma. Lissett Bickford, now with Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute, a non-profit biotech company in Beaverton Oregon dedicated to eradicating childhood cancer, earned her PhD in Bioengineering at Rice University in collaboration with MD Anderson Cancer Center where she developed rapid nanoparticle-based assays for cancer detection. Lissett’s long-term career goal is to make significant contributions in translational medicine by examining limitations to current practices and designing feasible studies and technologies to address these limitations. Episode 4 of our research series investigates how the parent-led organization of Sarah's cure works with cc-TDI to find solutions for clear cell sarcoma.

According the the Genomics Institute, 84% of dog DNA has human counterparts, so we suffer many of the same diseases, including most cancers. Dogs have a higher incidence of certain tumors which are considered rare in children. By studying these tumor types in dogs, we can learn a great deal about these devastating cancers, while also helping canines to beat their cancers.

Our first guest is Dr. Bernard Seguin DVM, surgical oncologist and Associate Professor of Surgical Oncology at Colorado State University with a focus on osteosarcomas and limb-sparing surgery. He shares with us the high rate of cancer incidence in our canine friends, and how the specialized research for dogs is helpful to pediatric oncology.

Ulrike Szalay, President of Canines 'n Kids Foundation in Virginia joins us during part II to share about her passion for translational research, and the shared unmet need of adequate research activity and funding for both pediatric and canine cancers.

Denver CO--Morgan Adams Foundation co-founder Joan Slaughter joins us to share this organizations 20 year history of advancing the clinical trial process for pediatric cancer in the medical research system. Her daughter Morgan had been diagnosed at 5 years old with GBM in 1997, surviving 11 months past the diagnosis before succumbing to the deadly disease. The Morgan Adams Foundation funds research critical to progress in pediatric neuro-oncology, one of the scientific worlds most challenging frontiers.

Partnering organization Cops Fighting Cancer, founded and led by Officer James Seneca, AML survivor, of Aurora P.D. in Colorado, worked with the Colorado legislature to create a childhood cancer license plate to support the research of Morgan Adams Foundation, and the family support for Cops Fighting Cancer. This organization, founded in 2002, has grown into a large coalition of Colorado Police Departments raising funds for kids with cancer and their families, and creating events to bring smiles, laughter, and leadership for the kids, their favorite heroes.

After months of frustrating ER visits for high fevers, Adelaide 'Addie' was diagnosed in November 2015 with Hepatoblastoma, a rare pediatric liver cancer; it was just four days before her 2nd birthday. Addie fought a fast-spreading disease with grace; she shared her contagious smile and joyous spirit with everyone she met, even during the most difficult treatments. Her parents, Christina and Cody Stiverson, join us to discuss their experience and the progress of the Foundation for Addie's Research, currently funding a project for hepatoblastoma at Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute.

We hear first from Dina Kats, researcher and project leader at the Institute. Before joining the team, Ms. Kats received her bachelor’s degree from UCSD and her Masters in Biology from Northwestern University in Chicago, IL. During her time at Northwestern, Dina focused on developing a tuberculosis vaccine using nanoparticles. In her own words, “I am excited to continue research that will help impact lives with cc-TDI!”

From a State Tax Measure bringing needed funds to pediatric cancer research, to leading in the country-wide movement for a DIPG Awareness Day, Pennsylvania is leading in authentic grassroots advocacy for children with cancer and their families. Bill Kohler is a highly respected and decorated veteran of the Iraq war, father, and now Executive Director of 4AydenStrong Foundation. He shares the story of his son Ayden, his tragic loss to pediatric brain cancer, and the continuing fight against time for all childhood cancer families as one of our country's foremost advocates.

Barbara Saltzman joins us from Palos Verdes CA, home of The Jester & Pharley™ Phund, the charity that grew out of her late son David’s best-selling children’s book, "The Jester Has Lost His Jingle." David created The Jester as his senior project at Yale before his death from cancer in 1990 at 22.

David's book has been making a difference in thousands of children’s lives for 23 years. Founded in the year 2000, the non-profit Jester & Pharley Phund developed from the overwhelming national response to the illustrated children's book, which was David's senior project at Yale.

Before his death from cancer at the age of 22 in 1990, David's family promised him that his book would be published as he had envisioned and that its universal message of hope, laughter and self-empowerment would be shared with children coping with cancer and other illness.

The Jester and Pharley Phund's programs for literacy and ill children have received multiple honors of national acclaim over the last 23 years.

The second edition of Childhood Cancer Talk Radio's Research Series with Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute features an osteosarcoma research project directed by Jin-ah Kim PhD. Originally from South Korea, Kim describes her education experience, vocational direction to cancer research, and the unique challenges and goals for the project.

The second half of the show features the inspiration behind the project, which is funded by the Trey Foote Foundation of Vancouver WA. James and Leah Foote, Trey's amazing and positive-minded parents, describe their experience with their son and his fight with osteosarcoma. His parents approach to life reflect their son's positive attitude toward life and to be happy living as large as possible. His mother Leah exemplifies this ideal with the motto, "Happiness is a choice, so be happy," continuing her love of working with children at Seaton Catholic College Preparatory School in Vancouver, WA. Jim Foote, a career executive in IT, Operations and Research and Development, prides himself as a problem solver determined to eradicate cancer.

Steven Healey shares the inspiration behind the foundation, his beautiful, forever-5 year old daughter Brooke who's life lasted just eight months post diagnosis of DIPG, a deadly pediatric brain cancer. Healey describes the harrowing experience as a parent, but also about a new-found community of families dedicated to funding research for the devastating disease, the DIPG Collaborative. The importance of awareness to an industry which categorically ignores the most vulnerable and those most needy of a cure, placing the burden of funding on to bereaved families, is an actual experience for parents familiar with DIPG and most pediatric cancers.

The Brooke Healey Foundation will host their fifth annual Casino Night on Friday March 8, 2019 at the Palace at Somerset Park located at 333 Davidson Ave., Somerset, NJ 08873. Registration starts at 6:30pm for this community favorite.