Prairie Elementary School Raises Over $4,000
Hi everyone my name is Betsy, I want to share the importance of pediatric cancer and why it should get more attention. People say the money should be spent on research for adults, what they don’t realize is that kids become adults. But that can’t happen if they are dying from cancer because their drug…
She Did Not Lose Her Battle
We recently shared this blog from Libby Kranz on our Gift from a Child website. Libby Kranz is one of our partners in Gift from a Child. She was kind enough to share her thoughts and and the recording of an emotional interview she granted to a local TV station about the loss of her…
Let’s Get This Done
Our good friend Nancy Goodman, founder and executive director of Kids v Cancer recently had a blog published by The Cancer Letter. It was Nancy who guided us through Michael’s decision to donate his tissue for research. She continues to be an unstoppable proponent for advancing pediatric cancer research. Excerpt from The Cancer Letter Blog:…
We Just Don’t Know
Today, I had to explain how cancer works to my Biology 101 students. I had to tell them how cells can find ways to bypass the checkpoints that are meant to protect us. I had to tell them how a single mutation can cause a tumor to begin forming. I had to tell them how…
Meet Melissa Williams
I’m Melissa Williams, the new Tissue Navigator at Lurie Children’s Hospital. More than fifteen years ago I began a journey with donation. I worked for Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network as a liaison with funeral directors and forensic professionals. At that time there were obstacles that were standing in the way of…
Gift from a child….for a child
In December, Swifty convened a Family Forum in Philadelphia of families who had donated their child’s post mortem brain tissue. Not exactly your typical holiday gathering, but so much good has come out of our time together. In the coming months you will be hearing a lot about the initiative that was launched at the…
A Dream You Dream Together
I never knew the truth of this quote by John Lennon until now: A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality. Our California Dream became reality when through your generous support we were able to fund Michelle Monje’s tissue navigator at Stanford and also fund the next…
Whoop! Whoop!!
Whoop! Whoop!!! The check is in the mail! Our first installment for the Tissue Navigator at Stanford has been mailed and Dr. Monje is planning to have that position filled in January. Thank you for helping us reach our Annual Appeal goal and making Swifty’s California Dream a reality! Alas, do not worry if you…
Swifty Family Forum a Rousing Success
I think you can imagine the trepidation I felt going to a two-day meeting of families all of whom had lost a child to brain cancer. My stomach hurt at the thought of facing that much pain in one room. Guess what? We laughed, we cried, we shared 3 things everyone should know about our…
Sing Along
I laughed so hard watching this video as we re-wrote the lyrics to California Dreamin’ for this email. For the full, groovy 60’s experience listen to the Mamas and the Papas as you sing along to our new verse. All the gifts aren’t in (all the gifts aren’t in)But I’m here to say (but I’m…
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