Help and Hope Happen Here

Dr. Daniel Morgenstern grew up and was educated in England and went to the University of Cambridge as part of his medical education. In 2016 he moved to Toronto where he became a Staff Oncologist at Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto with his expertise being in the Pediatric Cancer Neuroblastoma. While working diligently on this cancer, Dr. Morgenstern is also involved in drug development in trying to find new novel therapies that will help Pediatric Cancer patients who need new medicines which are less toxic as quickly as possible. 

Having a side effect or long term effect after surviving a battle with Pediatric Cancer is not at all surprising. On today's podcast Marta Blanco will talk about her daughter Sofia, who after being diagnosed with Non Hodgkins Lymphoma in 2003 when she was 4 years old,  suffered from Heart Failure during her treatment for this form of Pediatric Cancer. Although Sofia had recovered from her Lymphoma battle and managed to have a good quality of life for a number of years, she passed away from this Heart Failure side effect in April of 2012, just one month after her 13th birthday. 

Kurt Myers and his wife PJ's daughter Ailani was originally diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia when she was 2 years old in 2019. Because of a genetic mutation, her diagnosis was changed several weeks into her treatment to ALL which was determined to be high risk with a poor prognosis. Kurt and PJ will talk about what Ailani has had to go through including many relapses, 2 Bone Marrow Transplants, and treatment at some of the leading Pediatric Cancer hospitals in the United States. As 2024 begins, Ailani has suffered another relapse but is living the best life that she possibly can. 

Ryan Callahan began his outstanding National Hockey League career with the New York Rangers during the 2006-2007 season, and during the 2014 season went to the Tampa Bay Lightning. While in Tampa, he and his wife Kyla started the Ryan Callahan Foundation to help Pediatric Cancer patients and their families get as much enjoyment during their cancer journey's as possible. Kyla will talk about their Foundation with incredible passion on today's podcast. 

Before walking upstairs in her home in 2009, 13 year old Anna Yan Ji slipped and fell and afterwards, said that she felt funny. Shortly thereafter it was discovered that Anna had suffered a seizure and this seizure led to a diagnosis of the very rare Pediatric Brian Cancer, Gliomatosis Cerebri . Anna's parents, Kathy and Joe Arabia will talk about Anna and her cancer diagnosis, which lasted for 3  1/2 years before her eventual passing. They will also talk about their AYJ Fund which will be celebrating its 10th anniversary on February 10th, and is doing great work to fund groundbreaking research to help future children and adolescents who are diagnosed with this form of Brain Cancer. 

Brittney Bliss was diagnosed with Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma just after her 4th birthday in 2022. Her mother Elena will talk about the 13 month battle in which her beloved daughter never really caught a break, despite the fact that she was treated at some of the leading Pediatric Cancer hospitals in the country including Boston Children's Hospital and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Brittney passed away from this form of Pediatric Cancer on June 6th of 2023, just 10 days after her 5th birthday. 

Lysi Kinyon was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma before she was even born and Sarah Ross McHenry was diagnosed with this form of Pediatric Cancer when she was 8 years old. Lysi and Sarah will talk about the many long term side effects that both of them have had to experience for more than 20 years and how, even with all of their difficulties, they have been able to live their best lives possible, which includes giving back to others. 

Martine Kalbhenn was 3000 miles away at her family's home in Kennebunk, Maine when her 5 year old son Jackson tripped and fell while running and hurt his leg badly while visiting his Grandmother in California. Martine received a phone call from her husband Kyle and made plans to immediately travel out west. Jackson's fall was far from normal, as he was diagnosed with the Bone Cancer Ewings Sarcoma. Martine will talk about that time period  in which his fall occurred in late July, and how he is doing now during his treatment protocol, taking place at the Barbara Bush Children's Hospital, located at the Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine. 

Nick Gaspar was a 14 year old 8th grader who became lethargic and his normally upbeat personality became withdrawn in May of 2021. He also developed a tremor in his left hand and after being taken to his pediatrician, was quite quickly transported to Boston Children's Hospital where he was diagnosed with a Mixed Germ Cell Brain Tumor. Nick's mother Jen will talk about the next 2 years of Nick's life, which originally showed promise after his tumor was completely removed during a 12 hour Craniotomy. Unfortunately in the months ahead , Nick's condition went downhill, and he passed away on May 19th of 2023. 

Sophia Takla's 8 year old cousin Tristan passed away from Medulloblastoma 15 years ago when Sophia was 8 years old, as was Tristan. Sophia will talk about that period of time and what she has been doing as a Pediatric Cancer advocate since his Tristan's passing and will continue to do for many years to come.  Sophia will also discuss her being crowned Miss Oregon in June of 2022 and her top 10 finish in the Miss America Pageant in 2023.  Sophia has accomplished so much in her life already and at 23 years old, has an incredibly promising future ahead .