Childhood Cancer Talk Radio Podcasts

Writer, host of Story Walking Radio Hour, and healthy environment and holistic solutions advocate Wendy Fachon joins host Janet Demeter in a real conversation about the experience of DIPG from the shocking diagnosis/prognosis of each of their sons to their touchstones of hope. For Brain Tumor Awareness Month, we learn about the inspirations for DIPG Awareness Day, and why advocacy is so important make the suffering of these children more visible, and a cure to come more quickly.

We were blessed to begin this show 7 years ago when the very first resolution for childhood brain cancer awareness was introduced into US Congress, the DIPG Awareness Resolution. Our second show featured an interview with Ellyn Miller, CEO of Smashing Walnuts Foundation in Leesburg, VA in honor of her daughter Gabriella who fought DIPG and perished in 2013, just 3 years prior at the time of the interview. You will hear how Gabriella's fight, her advocacy for other children, and her confrontational stance with Congress to take more action for our children led to the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act. Today, Ellyn continues her work with advocating for the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0, a new funding mechanism for the highly successful Kids First Program at NIH for childhood disease research. You can learn more about this crucial program for pediatric research at NIH.gov.

Today's interview features the amazing Tracy Ryan and the company NKORE Biotherapeutics which she founded with Dr. Anahid Jewett, mastermind of the new NK cell technology and immunotherapy. Tracy shares with us the story of her daughter Sophie who has endured cancer and its treatments since she was not yet a year old, with miraculous results with NKORE's therapies, and also the current challenges to the medical research investment culture for smaller companies, even with great promise like NKORE. Investors on a mission to find the cure for cancer? Look no further!! It's an honor and a pleasure to meet with this literal superwoman who presented her findings at the Moonsho4Kids Reception and Congressional Briefing a year ago in Washington DC on May 17, 2022, to an amazed group of lawmakers and foundation leaders.

We are privileged to give you the opportunity to visit with Dr. Kent Bugg and Leanna Headley to learn more or to reminisce about this extraordinary force in childhood cancer advocacy and dynamic young woman, Megan Bugg. The Megan Bugg Global Rhabdomyosarcoma Laboratory at cc-TDI's new location in Hillsboro OR, opens April 29th 2023, on the eve of the one year anniversary of her death. The event serves as a dedication of the laboratory at this precious moment for the Bugg family.

When Tracy & Josh Ryan’s daughter Sophie was diagnosed with a low-grade brain tumor at just 8 ½ months old, they knew they had to take action. Their wellness journey began when Tracy’s family was featured in the Ricki Lake produced Netflix documentary, Weed the People. This led the Ryans to become leading trailblazers in the use of cannabis for pediatric disease through their brand CannaKids, and their global advocacy efforts.

Through Tracy’s partnership with world-leading cancer research scientist in the field of Natural Killer Cells, Dr. Anahid Jewett, she helped drive groundbreaking research for Sophie, and in the use of cannabis for cancer.

We bring you this interview with Devan Tatlow once more just after the year anniversary of the terrible war waged upon Ukraine by its neighbor Russia, to bring attention to the work of Kids-of-Ukraine and the fundraising efforts to support them at this powerful moment. Through March 24, the event hosted by Jack's Angels and Charity Footprints brings attention to, and supports financially with event proceeds, the critical work of "Kids-of-Ukraine" and their work in rescuing children with cancer and their families in the war-torn country. Devan Tatlow gives us a precious window into the realities faced by children with cancer and their families, caregivers, and the challenges faced in the collaborative international effort to help the people of Ukraine.

Susan Lataille joins us today live to share her book series with the latest edition, Shining a Light on Grief, real women sharing real stories of love and loss, coming in April 2023. Susan has been producing professional events for the wellness industry in and around her community in Rhode Island for over 12 years. Since the passing of her son Nathan in 2017, she has been guided to help others through the grieving process, and in 2021, she was ready to take the step to become a Certified Master Grief Coach. She now assists others along their own grieving journey by offering love, compassion, and understanding, widening her reach with this book series and the powerful stories shared therein.

Today's show features an interview with Kathy Derr, Co-Founder and Director of Family Engagement for A Kid Again, a national organization with a mission to foster hope, happiness and healing for children with life-threatening health conditions and their families. The organization provides cost-free, consistent, year-round activities that create meaningful shared experiences and joy-filled memories. A Kid Again serves families in all 50 states, growing and enrolling families, and providing support resources and connections to help families cope with the challenges of raising children with difficult medical journeys. With more than 1.5 million children across the United States suffering from life-threatening conditions, A Kid Again is committed to reaching as many of these impacted families as possible.

Replay of the December 15 interview as we prepared the Charity Footprints fundraiser to begin 2/24/2023 to support Kids-of-Ukraine's critical work helping children with cancer and their families in our war-torn sister country. Tabletochki, the Ukrainian charity which helps children with life-threatening diseases in Ukraine and in surrounding countries, had begun building a state of the art children's oncology hospital before the war began, and its work has been put on hold. How much catch up will need to be done with reconstruction, we simply cannot know at this time.

From contented stone mason living the dream with his family in beautiful Montana, to scientific investigator at the leading US biotech institute for childhood cancer research, here is an amazing story! Today's show brings to you the complete interview with Andy Woods, Chief Mission Officer with Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute in the outlying western suburbs of Portland Oregon. Andy gives us generous insight into family life before a life threatening diagnosis for his daughter, and how this event triggered a career transition which was nothing short of divinely guided, as Andy's early contributions to the institute literally enabled the advent of an effective therapy for her disease where there had been none before. The family story portion of this interview was included with the 11-24-2022 Thanksgiving show, along with an interview with Dr. Charles Keller, founder of the Institute.