Help and Hope Happen Here

In today's Podcast, Alan Osit will talk about his son Jacob, who passed away in 2007 after a 6 year battle with Neuroblastoma. Although Jacob has now been gone for 14 years,  Alan and his family still  honor his memory with their Golf Fore The Kids Golf Tournament. This tournament has raised $870,000 since the tournament began in 2003 and is contributing to helping the lives of Pediatric Cancer patients who need it so much.

In today's HELP AND HOPE HAPPEN HERE Podcast,  Barbara Anderson will talk about her son Jude's battle with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, which Jude was diagnosed with when he was 18 months old. Barbara will detail a journey which saw Jude travel from his home hospital in Tucson  Arizona , to Children's Hospitals in Minneapolis, Seattle, and Philadelphia before his home doctor in Arizona was awarded a grant by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. This grant led to a successful procedure and the eventual return to health for Jude, who is an active 8 year old.

Barbara is now an Ambassador for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and will talk about their Children's Initiative. 

Ginger Diamond is a true activist in the cause of trying to help Pediatric Cancer patients. In today's HELP AND HOPE HAPPEN HERE Podcast, Ginger will talk about the many foundations and organizations that she works with and the various roles that she tries to fill as she does whatever she can to make the lives of these kids as pleasant as possible. Ginger has a particular passion for the Make A Wish Foundation and will give her thoughts on that very philanthropic organization.

Genetic Testing and Genetic Counseling are becoming an increasingly important part in the fight against Pediatric Cancer. In today's HELP AND HOPE HAPPEN HERE  Podcast , authors Meagan Farmer and Dr. Nathaniel Robin do an excellent job in talking  about Genetics and how the study of  this science  can affect both children and their families as they deal with the many aspects of Pediatric Cancer

Jack Christianson was diagnosed with the genetic disorder of Down Syndrome shortly after he was born. Then at the age of 5 , he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Jack's mother Debbie talks about everything that Jack has been through including a cancer relapse at the age of 10, and many other physical issues that Jack has successfully battled through. Now 15 years old, Jack's story is one of hope, inspiration, and determination. 

When a friend's newborn son was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma just days after he was born, Jen Marchetti decided to ride in the Pan Mass Challenge as a way to help raise funds in his behalf . Little did she know that she would be diagnosed with a rare condition called Pheochromocytoma shortly before her ride was to begin. Despite Jen's doctor telling her that she could suffer a heart attack or stroke if she rode her bicycle in the event , Jen decided to participate in the first day of the ride in which she covered 88 miles. Jen's story is an extraordinary one and shows how dedicated a person can be  who is willing to test the limits in trying to help these kids who need and deserve much better lives. 

Justine Darmanian is the Director of PMC Kids Rides, a bicycle fundraiser that is open to anyone from the ages of 2  to 15 years old, and which is an important part of the Pan Mass Challenge. Justine will talk about this event in which in the year before Covid, saw 4500 kids participate from 25 Massachusetts communities and raise $1 million dollars. It is a great way for kids to enjoy a really fun day, while at the same time  raising  badly needed funds for cancer patients who need so much help. 

Mateo Goldman was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in 2016 at the age of 8. His  journey was highlighted in a Boston Globe Magazine cover story on December 27th of last year, a journey which included very difficult treatment and two bone marrow transplants. His last transplant took place in October of 2020, just 4 months ago and his latest scans taken this past December, all turned up clean. Mateo is a great example of the resiliency and positive attitude that is both needed and shown by these Pediatric Cancer patients.

10 year old Ruby Kaufman was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma in 2015.  After one year of grueling treatment , Ruby decided that she wanted to help other kids who were diagnosed with some type of cancer so she created a fundraiser called Ruby's Dance Till You Drop. That fundraiser raised $72,000.  Eventually, through the efforts of Ruby's family, the Rally Foundation, and Dr. Sam Volchenboum, a grant was awarded with the money that Ruby raised from her fundraiser to help with research  in the fight against this cancer.  This initial grant proved successful, and now millions of dollars in grant money has been received because of the success of the first grant,  and has been used to create one of the largest Data Research Systems to help in the overall fight against Pediatric Cancer.   This story is a great win for everyone involved. 

Meet Brittany Ross,  who was known as the "MIRACLE KID " while she was being treated at Georgetown University Hospital in 2001 for Acute Myeloid Leukemia at the age of 16. Brittany was given 3 weeks to live after her diagnosis and if she survived that, her continuing chances of survival ranged from 5 to 15 percent.  Brittany went 275 days without an Immune System during her ordeal, and on January 17th of this year, she celebrated her twentieth year of being declared cancer free. Brittany's story is truly one for the ages.