Stories Archives - Children's Cancer Research Fund https://childrenscancer.org/category/stories/ Children's Cancer Research Fund invests in lifesaving, leading-edge research in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure of childhood cancers and blood-related disorders. Thu, 10 Apr 2025 16:34:11 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Bryleigh’s Story https://childrenscancer.org/bryleighs-story/ Tue, 01 Apr 2025 18:01:40 +0000 https://childrenscancer.org/?p=15241 Meet Bryleigh, a small but mighty child at the forefront of advancing B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cancer research.

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]]> Jack’s Story https://childrenscancer.org/jacks-story/ Thu, 27 Feb 2025 18:58:22 +0000 https://childrenscancer.org/?p=15146 High school swimmer Jack refused to let Hodgkin lymphoma derail his competitive career. While undergoing chemotherapy, he not only continued swimming but qualified for state competitions, inspiring both teammates and rivals. Now in remission, Jack is determined to advocate for childhood cancer research while pursuing his athletic dreams.

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]]> Paving a Clearer Path for Kids Like Nat https://childrenscancer.org/paving-a-clearer-path-for-kids-like-nat/ Tue, 28 Jan 2025 14:00:00 +0000 https://childrenscancer.org/?p=15019 Because of your support, researchers are on their way to giving kids with osteosarcoma (bone cancer) a clearer, more effective treatment path. Dr. Jaime Modiano and his colleagues at the University of Minnesota are developing a groundbreaking blood test to differentiate between aggressive and less aggressive forms of osteosarcoma. Inspired by Nathalia Hawley’s story (below), he aims to create a personalized medicine approach that helps ...

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]]> Kenedi and Kendal’s Story https://childrenscancer.org/kenedi-and-kendals-story/ Fri, 06 Dec 2024 19:20:05 +0000 https://childrenscancer.org/?p=14854 Identical twins Kendal and Kenedi were diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia as infants. While both girls initially responded well to treatment, their paths would tragically diverge. Today, 9-year-old Kenedi excels in gymnastics and dance, while Kendal remains forever 2, having passed away from relapsed leukemia in 2017. Through their grief, the Breyfogle family continues to advocate for better childhood cancer treatments, knowing that research funding could help ensure other families don't face the same heartbreaking journey.

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]]> Fritz’s Story https://childrenscancer.org/fritzs-story/ Mon, 11 Nov 2024 18:13:31 +0000 https://childrenscancer.org/?p=14744 When 9-year-old Fritz went to the dentist for what seemed like a routine tooth pain, no one expected it would change his life forever. What the dentist discovered was actually a rare tumor - leading to a diagnosis of Ewing sarcoma in his jaw, representing less than 1% of all cases of this already rare childhood cancer.

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]]> Tenzin’s Story https://childrenscancer.org/tenzins-story/ Fri, 30 Aug 2024 21:26:06 +0000 https://childrenscancer.org/?p=14445 Tenzin, a 10-year-old leukemia fighter and Junior Black Belt, continues his treatment with unwavering resilience.

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]]> Kayden’s Story – Fighting Leukemia https://childrenscancer.org/kaydens-story-fighting-leukemia/ Thu, 06 Jun 2024 19:01:59 +0000 https://childrenscancer.org/?p=14195 Kayden’s parents took him to the emergency room for pain and unexplained bruising. Finally, one of the emergency room doctors called an oncologist, who ran a test that showed Kayden had signs of leukemia. The world of cancer treatment wasn’t made for kids - but Kayden was suddenly a part of it.

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]]> Jackson’s Story – Ready for Anything https://childrenscancer.org/jacksons-story-ready-for-anything/ Wed, 01 May 2024 22:00:37 +0000 https://childrenscancer.org/?p=14122 Jackson’s mom Martine has a “go bag” packed at all times. Whenever they get home, she washes everything, packs most of the items right back up and sits the bag on the counter, just in case. This uncertain way of living, having to be ready to head to the hospital at any time, is how Jackson and his family have been living since July 2023, when Jackson was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a type of bone cancer.

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]]> One of a Kind – Lila’s Story https://childrenscancer.org/one-of-a-kind-lilas-story/ Fri, 12 Apr 2024 20:42:41 +0000 https://childrenscancer.org/?p=14080 Medical challenges are not new territory for 14-year-old Lila and her family – she had a stroke before she was born, she is non-verbal and is only fed through a g-tube. She has been diagnosed with Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy, meaning she has a hard time moving her arms and legs, as well as Dystonia, Scoliosis and more. So when leukemia was added to the list, Sarah was terrified – childhood cancer is already so rare and hard to treat, and Lila’s other diagnoses made this situation unique.

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]]> A Little Warrior – Sloane’s Story  https://childrenscancer.org/a-little-warrior-sloanes-story/ Thu, 21 Mar 2024 23:10:39 +0000 https://childrenscancer.org/?p=14021 You might think it strange that Allison cherishes the opportunity to watch her three-year-old daughter, Sloane, throw a tantrum. It’s something most parents would roll their eyes at – a little kid getting wildly upset over something silly. But for Allison, every typical toddler struggle is a reminder that right now, Sloane is healthy. And after what Sloane has been through, her family doesn’t take that for granted.

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]]> A Battery-Operated Heart – Megan’s Osteosarcoma Story https://childrenscancer.org/megans-story/ Wed, 17 Jan 2024 18:58:39 +0000 https://childrenscancer.org/?p=13869 When 8-year-old Megan was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, she asked her mom what osteosarcoma was – she’d never heard the word before. Her mom said, “It’s something we don’t want, but it’s something we’re going to fight.”

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]]> The power of seed funding: CCRF-funded leukemia screening project lands NIH grant https://childrenscancer.org/the-power-of-seed-funding-ccrf-funded-leukemia-screening-project-lands-nih-grant/ Fri, 27 Oct 2023 15:26:24 +0000 https://childrenscancer.org/?p=13794 Erin Marcotte, PhD, MPH, and Heather Nelson, PhD, MPH, of University of Minnesota are seizing the opportunity to turn small things into big hope for the future of childhood leukemia. In 2016, the pair received a grant from Children’s Cancer Research Fund (CCRF) to develop a new method to predict which children are at risk of developing acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) — and perhaps one day prevent it.

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]]> Bone marrow recipient Ella is flower girl in her donor’s wedding https://childrenscancer.org/bone-marrow-recipient-ella-is-flower-girl-in-her-donors-wedding/ Tue, 17 Oct 2023 20:30:32 +0000 https://childrenscancer.org/?p=13734 Ella had a very aggressive form of acute myeloid leukemia, and neither of her siblings were a marrow match. Even after the transplant, she had only a 10% chance of making it past the one-year mark. But thanks to Cody’s whim decision in college to donate marrow, Ella was able to participate in his wedding as one of their flower girls three years after her transplant.

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]]> Teeing Up for a Cure https://childrenscancer.org/teeing-up-for-a-cure-nicholas-cisewski/ Tue, 10 Oct 2023 20:05:14 +0000 https://childrenscancer.org/?p=13686 Humbled. Hopeful. Loved.  Those are just some of the emotions the family of Nicholas Cisewski feels every year during the Nicholas Cisewski Memorial Golf Tournament in Minnesota. The tournament recently celebrated its 10th year of converging on the green in Nick’s honor, raising nearly $20,000 in support of childhood cancer research.  Throughout Nick’s 14 years of life, he was “a kid that everyone knew,” his ...

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]]> CCRF’s New CEO, Elizabeth Allen, Has Big Plans https://childrenscancer.org/ccrfs-new-ceo-elizabeth-allen-has-big-plans/ Tue, 26 Sep 2023 19:57:19 +0000 https://childrenscancer.org/?p=13579 It's hard to believe we’re already two months into my new role as CEO of Children’s Cancer Research Fund (CCRF)! These initial weeks have been a whirlwind filled with optimism and hope, and I’m excited to share my vision for the future of CCRF with you.  First and foremost, I want to acknowledge the terrifically talented group of individuals who make up the heart and ...

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]]> Divide and conquer – a new way to study osteosarcoma https://childrenscancer.org/divide-and-conquer-a-new-way-to-study-osteosarcoma/ Mon, 25 Sep 2023 16:52:02 +0000 https://childrenscancer.org/?p=13560 Using The Fight Osteosarcoma Together (FOT) Super Grant, funded in part by the Zach Sobiech Osteosarcoma Fund, Dr. Grohar will spend three years leading a research team to investigate a family of genes called MYC. His larger goal is to identify targeted treatments for osteosarcoma patients whose MYC genes have gone awry.

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]]> Turning Pain into Purpose – Riding for Mary https://childrenscancer.org/turning-pain-into-purpose-riding-for-mary/ Wed, 20 Sep 2023 19:44:46 +0000 https://childrenscancer.org/?p=13548 In 2006, Mary, a strong and talented track runner, was slated to head off to her first year of college. She visited her doctor for the required physical check-up that was standard. But this exam turned out to be far from routine, and it would forever change the lives of Mary and her family.

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]]> Soaking up summer fun at Camp Norden 2023 https://childrenscancer.org/soaking-up-summer-camp-norden/ Wed, 06 Sep 2023 20:54:42 +0000 https://childrenscancer.org/?p=13455 Children's Cancer Research Fund is dedicated to making a positive impact in the world of childhood cancer, and part of that looks like Camp.

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