Help and Hope Happen Here

In her role as the Director of the Supportive Care Clinic at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorder Center in Atlanta, Dr. Katharine Brock wears many hats. Dr. Brock will talk about this critical role for pediatric cancer patients and their families that she serves in trying to make certain that each day for these children and adolescents is better than the day before.

Dr. Brock will also talk about the difference between Palliative Care (Which is a synonym for Supportive in this case) and Hospice Care, as well as being chosen as the winner of the very prestigious Hastings Center Cuniff-Dixon Physician award . This award was given to her for technical competence, personal Integrity, and the ability to function well as part of a care team. 

This clinic was started just a few years ago, and will be making a positive impact for these children and families for many years to come. 

Carson Leslie was diagnosed with Medulloblastoma at the age of 14 in 2006 and passed away from this Pediatric Brain Cancer in January of 2010. Carson wrote a book entitled CARRY ME which was published just 6 days before his passing, in the hope that his words would comfort other Pediatric Cancer patients who would inevitably suffer from some form of cancer.

His mother Annette will talk about Carson's life, and the Carson Leslie Foundation which is helping to make great strides in many aspects of Medulloblastoma. Having the support of Texas Congressman Mike McCaul, the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) which spends 12 percent of it's money on Pediatric Cancer while the average public money spent on this is only 4 percent, and the Jordan Spieth Foundation,  Annette is the engine that is making certain that there will be easier treatments, and easier paths towards a cure for these children and adolescents who have to endure such a difficult disease. 

Roger Holzberg has spent his entire working life introducing creative ideas and projects. He was nominated for an Academy Award in the Documentary film category in research/writing for a film called The Living Sea which was narrated by Meryl Streep. 
He then spent many years as the Creative Director for Walt Disney Imagineering before his own cancer diagnosis at age 50.

Roger then decided to take his many creative talents and move them from entertainment to the fight against Pediatric Cancer. Since that time, Roger co founded "Reimagine Well" which has brought a number of important cutting edge ideas and systems to help children, adolescents, and young adults  find more comforting ways to deal with their individual treatments. These systems and platforms are now in hospitals around the United States and the hope is that they will be introduced in many more hospitals here and around the globe as time goes on. 

When Cole Eicher was 12 years old he was diagnosed with Medulloblastoma, which is the most common form of Pediatric Brain Cancer. After an intense 9 month treatment, Cole recovered from this disease. He has spent the past 7 years advocating for children who have experienced all forms of Pediatric Cancer.

At the age of 12 Cole decided that he wanted to be a voice for children and families facing childhood cancer. As a volunteer for the American Cancer Society he wanted to see a childhood cancer team at Relay For Life events nationwide. Cole knew that it would provide a way for children to be empowered and supported in their community. After a few years of testing, Gold Together became a national program with the American Cancer Society in November of 2018.

 His mother Laura will talk about Cole's mission to create more ways for people to volunteer and support courageous kids in their community.

Amy Sapien's son Landen was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic T Cell Leukemia and is currently about halfway through his 3 1/2 year treatment. Nine months into this treatment, Amy was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Amy will talk about both of their battles, plus her involvement in CAC 2 and Prep For Gold, which are two leading Pediatric Non Profit organizations. 

When Julie Guillot's son Zach passed away from Acute Myeloid Leukemia after a more than 4 year battle with this disease, Julie said upon leaving his hospital room for the last time "This Is Not Over, This Is Not Over".  Julie has since kept her promise and then some, as since 2014 she has become one of the leading and most well known advocates for this more than difficult form of Childhood Leukemia. 

Julie Co Founded the Target Pediatric AML Project in 2016 which the Children's Oncology Group called the highest "Highest Potential Greatest Need Project For AML And Young People" She then went to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society where she became the National Chair for the BEAT AML inititiative which became a one hundred million dollar project.

This September in New Orleans, Julie is organizing the first Grass Roots AML Impact Conference, which will bring together people from all aspects of this disease to continue the fight to improve the lives of these kids who have had to battle Acute Myeloid Leukemia each day.

Kezia Fitzgerald has twice been diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma in the past 10 years and during the early part of her own cancer battle, she gave birth to her daughter Saoirse who was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma in the first year of her life, and passed away when she was 18 months old.

During Saoirse's treatment, Kezia created a sleeve which helped Saoirse with her picc line, that she was having so much trouble with. After Saoirse's passing, Kezia and her husband Mike created the Carealine company, which manufactured this same sleeve which is now used in many hospitals to protect pediatric cancer patients and their own pick lines.

During Covid,  Kezia heard about a need for isolation gowns for caregivers and created a gown that was permanent, only having to be washed every 100 times that it was used. This gown has proven to be an invaluable tool as it can replace gowns which could only be used once before they had to be disposed. 

Kezia will talk about her journey with Saoirse, her own cancer battles, and her work which has helped so many children and caregivers.

Ally Tamayose and Delaney Sweet are two of the thirteen Jr. Board Members of MIB Agents, a non profit started by Ann Graham that focuses entirely on the very difficult bone cancer of Osteosarcoma.  Ally and Delaney will discuss their Pediatric Cancer journeys, their plans for the future, and their thoughts on MIB Agents, which has meant so much to both of them as they are giving back to others who have been diagnosed with this same disease.

Kara Skrubis, Maeve Smart, and Mia Sandino all were diagnosed with Osteosarcoma as adolescents or teenagers. They will discuss their individual journeys with this form of Pediatric Bone Cancer , in which they all have endured very difficult treatment.  They will also talk about their roles and their thoughts on MIB Agents, which is a non profit dedicated exclusively to the fight against Osteosarcoma. These wonderful young women are all Jr. Board Members of this organization, and all want to help other patients who have had to also struggle with this most difficult form of pediatric cancer. 

Grace Bunke was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in August of 2014, and fought this disease as bravely as possible until her passing in March of 2018. On today's Podcast, her mother Vicki will talk about Grace's Rotation Plasty surgery which allowed her to be fitted for a  a prosthetic leg, which led to her becoming a good enough swimmer that she qualified for the Georgia Para State Swimming Championships. Although Grace was too sick to participate in those championships, Grace was able to participate in Swim Across America in Lake Lanier Georgia, just 5 months before she passed away.  Vicki will also detail the treatment that Grace had to endure because of the 20 tumors that she had in her lungs, as a result of her Osteosarcoma.  Finally, Vicki will talk about her own participation in Swim Across America, in which she will be participating in 14 events this year to honor the memory of her beloved daughter.