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.