Help and Hope Happen Here

The normal protocol for a diagnosis of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia is around 2 years of treatment but Lorie Chartiers daughter Gracie, who was diagnosed with this form of Pediatric Blood cancer when she was turning 10 years old in 2016, did not have the luxury of a normal maintenance program during her recovery. For the past 6 years leading up to 2025, she has struggled with many post treatment side effects which have hampered her, especially from a psychosocial point of view. Now 18 years old, Gracie is doing what she can to lead her best life possible. 

Dr. John Van Doorninck is a Pediatric Cancer Hematologist and Oncologist in Denver Colorado. He is also an active member and strong supporter of World Child Cancer, an International Organization whose main focus is to help lower income and middle income countries who do not have the wealth, resources, or expertise to help the Pediatric Cancer communities, as wealthy countries such as the United States are able to do. Dr. Van Doorninck will talk about many facets of this problem, including what solutions are already in place to hopefully bring up the survival rate in these countries to 60 percent by 2030. 

Erin Booth's son Landon was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia when he was 5 1/2 years old in March of 2021. From that time until he was in remission beginning in 2023, Landon had gone through his treatment well enough, but then after his remission started , so did his side effects . As Landon is now nearing his 10th birthday, these myriad of side effects remain an issue for him and the hope is that they will become easier as Landon moves on and approaches his Survivorship Stage.

Laura DeKraker Lang- Ree knew nothing about Pediatric Cancer when her then 3 year old daughter Cecilia was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in 1999. Since that time, Cecilia has recovered and gone on to lead a very successful and productive life, and Laura was able to learn so much about all facets of Pediatric Cancer that she was able to write a book called THE PARENTS CANCER HANDBOOK - What Your Oncologist Does Not Have Time To Tell You which she just published several weeks ago.   

Side Effects and After Effects from any Pediatric Cancer battle can be very difficult, especially when there are so many side effects that are concerning after being diagnosed with Pediatric Brain Cancer. That is certainly the case as we just heard from Stacie Eirich in talking about her daughter Sadie who has had more than a few difficult obstacles to overcome. The hope is that she will find the right people and programs to help Sadie through her toughest times. 

Audrey's Children is a movie that will be released in theatres this Friday, March 28th. It is the story of Dr. Audrey Evans, who is very likely the most significant Pediatric Cancer Oncologist of all time. Joe McDonough, who is the Founder of the Andrew McDonough B Positive Foundation , Michael Helfant who has been in the film business long enough to be involved in 150 films, and Julia Fisher Farbman, who is the Screenwriter and Producer of this film will talk about this remarkable woman who did so much for so many children before passing away at the age of 97 in 2022.

AUDREY's CHILDREN is the story of Dr. Audrey Evans, who is quite possibly the most significant Pediatric Cancer Oncologist in history. Her story is about to be portrayed across the country as a film which is opening this Friday, March 28th in between 200-and 250 theatres across America. To show you how important this film is in introducing Dr. Evans to us, Michael Helfant, one of my interviewees and a long time member of the film industry said that of all the films he has been involved with, and they total more than 150, this was the best one. I will be joined on this podcast by Michael,  Joe McDonough who runs the Andrew McDonough B Positive Foundation, and Julia Fisher Farbman who is the Screenwriter and Produce of the Film.

After a long period of time with severe stomach pain, Ryan and Courtney Cotton's daughter Julianna had to go through a test which completely missed an 11 cm tumor which was covering 70 percent of her belly before she finally received a proper diagnosis of Neuroblastoma in early 2022. Now 3 years later, Julianna has recovered from 2 relapses, currently has No Evidence of Disease , and is living the life of a normal 6 year old girl. 

Terrie Magro will talk about her son Mark who was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma, just before turning 11 years old in mid March of  2004, and then on June 8th of that year, her 13 year old son Michael was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia with a rare T Cell variation . Mark is now nearing 32 years of age and is doing well both health and career wise but unfortunately, Michael passed away on July 30th of 2004, only 52 days after his diagnosis.  

Tay Scheibe was diagnosed with Large Cell Lymphoma when she was 10 years old and a 5th grade student on Tuesday, September 11th, 2001. Tay had 1 more cancer fight to go through and by the time she was 12, Tay was on her way to a full recovery  Tay spent much of the next years after her recovery trying to work on her own identity and in 2012, started a Toy Drive for the benefit of Pediatric Cancer patients which turned into her now Non-Profit With Love Charity in 2016.