Organizations that Help Families with Cancer

Below is a list of other organizations that help children diagnosed with cancer as well as their families.

American Cancer Society

http://www.cancer.org/

Resources to learn more about cancer, treatment options, and learn about research being done.

Brain Tumor

http://www.braintumor.org/

Includes links to Pediatric Cancer Organizations 

                

American Childhood Cancer Organization

http://www.acco.org

A group of parents whose children have been diagnosed with cancer came together to advocate for research and support each other

Brain Tumor Foundation for Children, Inc.
http://www.braintumorkids.org

Nonprofit organization that aims to improve the lives of children and families whoa re affected by cancer

Making Headway Foundation
http://www.makingheadway.org

Aims to help support families and children diagnosed with cancer through the diagnosis,  treatment, and beyond.

Cancer.net

http://www.cancer.net/publications-and-resources/support-and-resource-links/general-cancer-organizations-and-resources/financial-resources

Many resources listed including groups that help with transport and housing for cancer patients 

Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition

http://www.cancerfac.org/

Has a link for Sources of Financial Assistance for People With Cancer

Cancer Care Website

 http://www.cancercare.org/publications/62-sources_of_financial_assistance

 Lists government agencies that can help with health-care related costs.

Cancer Treatment Centers

http://www.cancercenter.com/after-care-services/encouraging-support.

Offers suggestions for the support people in a cancer patient's life.

Chronic Disease Fund

http://www.cdfund.org/

Provides help to patients who have a chronic disease.  You have to sign up to be a member.

Also have patient assistance help on-line.

Cookies for Kid's Cancer

http://www.cookiesforkidscancer.org

Has a section on kid's cancers but the group raises fund to help with cancer research by selling cookies.

Health Well Foundation

http://www.healthwellfoundation.org/

Helps to pay patient co-pays when the family can't afford to do it.

The LAM Foundation

http://www.thelamfoundation.org/

Newsletters contain some support information like Facebook groups that relate to lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM)

Legal Information Network for Cancer

http://cancerlinc.org/

Although it is centered in Virginia, they have links for dealing with legal and financial information as it relates to cancer  

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

http://www.lls.org/

Has a section to help guide patients through their ordeal

    

Lymphoma Research Foundation

http://www.lymphoma.org/site/pp.asp?c=bkLTKaOQLmK8E&b=6296735

Contains a number of links to learn about lymphoma and research that is being done.

Oak Tree Corner

http://www.oaktreecorner.org/

Site set up to help give comfort and support for grieving children and their families when a child has lost someone special.

General Organizations (as listed on CancerCare.org) 

ACS’s Community Resource Connection

1-800-ACS-2345

www.cancer.org

 United Way

Check phonebook for local office

www.liveunited.org

Community Organizations

Check your local phonebook under “social service agencies.”

Religious Organizations--includes Catholic Charities, Lutheran Social Services, Jewish Family Services, and others.

Check your local phonebook for listings.

How Others Can Help

I encourage everyone who reads this blog to consider making a donation or volunteering at a hospital. It can be very simple to make a big difference in someone's life. Also, anyone who does donate or volunteer at a hospital can feel free to contact me by commenting on a post. Below is a list of things you could consider donating:

• Patient Dolls: Plain, solid, and neutral colored fabric dolls, stuffed with polyester filling. Dolls should not have facial features or clothing. Large quantities of dolls are used for teaching and medical play with children.
• Comforts, quilts, or fleece blankets: all sizes
• Pillows: various sizes (12”x12”, 12”x18”, 16”x5”)
• Activity bags: plastic or paper bags filled with items to provide children with craft activities and fun things to do. Items that may be included: stickers, sticker pages, safety scissors, tape, cut and paste activity sheets, coloring sheets, word search puzzles, crayons, markers, colored pencils, glue sticks, craft sticks, watercolor paints, and bead kits with instructions. No candy or food items, please.
• Picture files: magazine pictures cut and categorized (people, food, sports, animals, etc.) for use in art activities
• Toiletry Kits (for parents or young adult patients): include items such as toothbrush and toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, comb, disposable razor, shaving cream, soap, etc. in a Ziplock bag.

Also, here is a list of hospitals and their addresses you could consider donating or volunteering at, but any hospital in your community could benefit from your help.

Nationwide Children's Hospital 
        http://www.nationwidechildrens.org/
        Address:  700 Children's Drive
                         Columbus, OH  43205
        Phone Number:  (614) 722-6593

St. Judes - events happen nationwide that individuals can volunteer at
    http://www.stjude.org/stjude/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=13df18ab41d0b210VgnVCM1000001e0215acRCRD
            Mailing Address:  St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
                                            262 Danny Thomas Place
                                            Memphis, TN  38105
            To obtain more information on donations, call 1-800-822-6344

 Seattle Children's Hospital
    http://www.seattlechildrens.org/ways-to-help/donate/
            Mailing Address:  4800 Sand Point Way NE                                        
                                       Seattle, WA  98105
            Phone:  206-987-2000, 866-987-2000 (toll free)
            Always looking for toys for the patients.

Children's Hospital Colorado
    http://www.childrenscolorado.org/give/in_kind.aspx
            Address:  13123 East 16th Avenue
                              Aurora, CO  80045            
            Phone Number: 720-777-1234, 800-624-6553 (toll free)

Akron Children's Hospital

https://www.akronchildrens.org/cms/cancer_funds/index.html

    Address:  Akron Children's Hospital Foundation

                     ATTN: Foundation

                     One Perkins Square

                     Akron, OH 44308-1062

    Phone:   (330) 543-8340 

    Although their site doesn't specifically indicate that they take donations of physical items, they have the Children’s Blood and Cancer (CBC) Fund provides personal items for patients and covers expenses of equipment and 

    supplies. 

Cincinnati's Children's Hospital

http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/about/community/contact/

      Address:  Office of Community Relations

                       MLC 5004

                       3333 Burnet Ave. 

                       Cincinnati, OH 45229

      Phone:  Tori Ames, Manager at 513-636-7446

      Their site doesn't indicate if donations are accepted use the contact information to ask questions and see if  items would be accepted.

Mercy Children's Hospital

http://www.mercyweb.org/mercy_childrens.aspx

     Address:  Mercy Children's Hospital

                      2213 Cherry Street

                      Toledo, OH 43608

    Phone:   (419) 251-8000 or (419) 251-KIDS (5437)

    No information on donations on their website.

Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital

http://www.uhhospitals.org/rainbow

    Address: UH Seidman Cancer Center

                    11100 Euclid Ave

                    Cleveland, OH 44106 

   Phone:     216-844-3951

   No information on donations on their website.

Cleveland Hospital, Cleveland Clinic

http://my.clevelandclinic.org/childrens-hospital/default.aspx

      Several locations possible.

      No information on donations on their website.

Dayton Children's

http://www.childrensdayton.org/cms/sitelet/wishlist/index.htm

       Although blankets and hats are not mentioned on their wish list, they have a large list of items that are needed.

       Address:  One Children's Plaza

                        Dayton, Ohio 45404-1815

       Phone:  937-641-3000

Information on Wolfson Children's Hospital and Pediatric Cancer

Information on Wolfson Children's Hospital

Wolfson Children’s Hospital is a non-profit organization that relies on donations in order to take care of the children in the local area. In 2007 Wolfson’s was selected as one of two children’s hospitals to receive Magnet recognition. Wolfson Children’s Hospital’s Child Life specialists focus on using their skills to understand children’s reactions to being in the hospital. 

Wolfson Children’s Hospital depends on donations to provide care for the children. Wolfson’s is a non-profit hospital that treats children, whether or not their families can pay. Donations can help make the children more comfortable and entertained during their stay. I encourage others to donate to local non-profit hospitals in their area. Examples of items on Wolfson’s wish list include coloring books, playing cards, books, bubbles, and latex-free Band-Aids. For other donation ideas, here’s a link to their wish list: http://www.wolfsonchildrens.org/ways-to-give/Documents/childlife_wishlist.pdf.

Another way to help local non-profit hospitals such as Wolfson’s is to volunteer. Even as little as three hours a week can make a difference. Different areas where you can volunteer include admitting and information, the library, office assistance, and Child Life.

It is important to give back to your community, whether it’s helping out a local hospital or some other means of giving back. Donations or volunteering can make a big impact on those they affect. There are always opportunities to give back to the community that you live in, and I encourage others to do so. Being able to make a positive difference in someone else’s life is something everyone should take advantage of.

All information about Wolfson’s Children Hospital is from their website: http://www.wolfsonchildrens.org/Pages/default.aspx.

Information on Pediatric Cancer

One of the diseases Wolfson Children’s Hospital specializes in is pediatric cancer. Cancer in children is most commonly from DNA changes taking place in very early life. Most childhood cancers respond better to chemotherapy than cancers typically found in adults. Cancers that are common in children are often different from cancers usually found in adults. Common forms of childhood cancers include leukemia, neuroblastoma, lymphoma, retinoblastoma, and bone cancer.

Less than 1% of cancers diagnosed each year are in children. In the United States about 12,060 children under the age of 15 will be diagnosed with cancer this year and 1,340 are expected to die from it. Over the past few decades, the rates of cancer in children have been increasing slightly. About 80% of children diagnosed with cancer survive 5 years or more. However, the survival rate can vary depending on the type of cancer. After accidents, cancer remains the second leading cause of death in children under the age of 15.

Symptoms of childhood cancer are easy to miss because they can overlap with other illnesses or injuries. Children should have regular medical check-ups and parents should look for any unusual symptoms that do not go away. Symptoms of childhood cancer include unusual lump or swelling, unexplained paleness or loss of energy, easy bruising, ongoing pain in one area of the body, limping, unexplained fever or illness that does not go away, frequent headaches, sudden vision changes, and sudden unexplained weight loss. Most of these symptoms are unlikely to be caused by cancer. However, parents can check with their child’s doctor so that the cause of these symptoms can be determined. Certain gene changes inherited from a parent can lead to a higher chance of a child developing cancer. 

Information about pediatric cancer is from the American Cancer Society’s website: http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/CancerinChildren/index.

Looking Back on My Project

Obstacles I Faced

One of the biggest obstacles I faced when completing my Gold Award was time management. At first the project seemed big and overwhelming, so I made a chart to organize what I would do when. However, I failed to stick to the chart and quickly became unorganized again. I had planned to do a majority of the project before school began so I would be able to focus on the project instead of homework. I ended up procrastinating and did not start the project until winter break. After buying the fleece, I split my Gold Award into three main sections: the blankets, the hats, and the website. I decided that I would not be able to focus on both school and my Gold Award so I waited until spring break to complete the first section, the blankets. Again, I waited until summer before continuing my work on the project. Eventually, I was able to overcome my lack of time management by breaking down a seemingly overwhelming project into three smaller, more manageable, parts.

Aspects I Would Change

If I could change one aspect of my project, it would be to stay more organized. Throughout the project, I struggled with time management. I would come up with ways to organize my project, but I failed to follow through on them. If I could change how I went about completing the project, I would be more diligent on staying organized and managing my time wisely. I also would have tried to work on my project more during the school year instead of putting it off until I had a break from school. 

What I Learned from My Project

From my Gold Award, I learned a lot about time management. In order to complete the project successfully, it was vital I stay organized and learn how to manage my time. I also learned that it can help to break a big project into smaller steps. This helped the project seem less overwhelming and allowed me to better judge how much was left on my project. I also learned the importance of keeping a commitment I have made. I had started my project so I knew that it was important I keep the commitment and finish. The main leadership skill I developed through my project was organization and time management. When I first started the project, I did not manage my time as well as I should have and, as a result, I became unorganized and procrastinated on finishing. In order to stop procrastinating, I had to become organized. I set up a time frame to complete my project, and followed through on it. I also learned that this project was completely up to me. No one else could decide when or if I was going to complete this project, and if I wanted to be successful then I would have to take charge of the project. My project also taught me a lot about myself. I learned that I was capable of organizing my time and following through on the project. This project showed me what I am able to do if I am determined. Most of all, I learned that I was able to give back and make a difference in my community.

The Impact of My Project on Me

My project impacted me by teaching me to keep commitments I make. A few times while I was working on the project, I was tempted to give up because it seemed too overwhelming. However, I followed through on finishing the project because it is important to me that I keep the commitments I make. My Gold Award also showed me what it is like to make a difference. Completing my project showed me that it is possible for someone to impact those around her. Through my project, I learned the importance of giving back to one’s community. Mostly, my project showed me the importance of taking pride in one’s work. After it was all through, I was proud of what I had accomplished, and proud of the blankets and hats I made. I felt that the quality of my work showed in what I had made. My sense of accomplishment made me glad I had stuck with the project. Looking back at all the time I had spent on my project, I was proud of everything I had done, and I was proud at how the blankets and hats had turned out. Completing my project taught me a lot, and it helped me grow as a person. I learned about responsibility and organization, as well as giving back to the community. In the end, I am proud of what I have done and feel accomplished for having successfully finished my Gold Award project. 

How to Make No-Sew Fleece Blankets and Hats

One of the purposes of my project is for it to continue, even after my involvement. I hope others will consider making blankets or hats to donate to local hospitals.

Supplies

2 yards of a patterned fleece

2 yards of a solid colored fleece

Thread

Scissors

Sewing machine 

No-Sew Fleece Blankets 

First lay the two sheets of fleece on top of one another and line them up

 Then, cut off a foot of fleece from the end and set it aside for the hat

Continue by cutting out 4” x 4” squares from each of the corners from the remaining fleece

Cut 3” x 1” fringes along each border

Tie the two pieces of fleece together. I recommend doing every other knot, then flipping the blanket over and finish tying. This helps the knots and blanket appear more even.

Fleece Hats

I got the pattern for making hats from http://gailbable.tripod.com/id25.html 

First make the pattern for the hat by cutting out a 10, 11 or 12” square. The 11” sized hats seem to be a good size for most people, but if the hat is for a younger child, I would recommend the 10” pattern. If the fleece is not very stretchy, a bigger size might be better.

Fold the square in half twice lengthwise

Unfold once and mark a line 1 1/2” from the top and use it to trace a triangle at the top of the pattern.

Cut out the triangle, unfold the pattern and mark the left hand side as needing to be placed on the fold

Fold over one of the pieces of fleece and place the pattern over it, pinning it in place, and cut around the fleece. Repeat this on the other piece of fleece.

Next, sew along the side of the hat across from the fold, and the outsides of the ‘V’ shape.

In order to show where to sew, I circled in red where I placed the pins

Then bring the two sewn points at the top together and sew along the remaining lines, leaving a hole in one side of the hat for reversing to the right side.

Repeat on the other piece of fleece. Line up the bottoms of the hat and sew them together. Reverse the fleece through the hole and finish by hand sewing the hole closed.

An Overview of My Gold Award Project

For my Gold Award, I made 20 sets of matching no-sew fleece blankets and hats, along with 5 extra hats. I chose eight boy prints, eight girl prints, and four unisex prints. The goal of my project was to address the needs of sick children at Wolfson Children’s Hospital, specifically those with cancer.
In the United States about 12,060 children under the age of 15 will be diagnosed with cancer this year and 1,340 are expected to die from it. Cancer is the leading cause of death by disease among children in the United States one to fourteen years old. The reason I chose to do this project was to make a positive impact on my community by reaching out to those in need. Wolfson's is a non-profit hospital that treats children, whether or not their families can pay. It was my goal to aid the hospital in caring for sick children. I believe that the best way for me to help my community, and Wolfson's, was to make blankets and hats to donate. I hope the impact I made was one that helps my community, specifically benefitting those at Wolfson Children’s Hospital. My goal was to make an impact on those going through a difficult time at Wolfson's. The families at Wolfson's are in need of help and my Gold Award was an opportunity for me to provide that help.