September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
Meet our brave young warriors
At the NCCS, we are helping families battling childhood cancer every day of the year. September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. This month, we can use your support more than ever. Please read and share some of the stories of the kids we have helped below.
A donation of any size can help us help more families.
Because no family should go through childhood cancer alone.TM
Ja’khari, acute lymphoblastic leukemia warrior
Ja’khari was only a year old when his mother received the devastating news that her son had cancer. His mother, Naquesha, felt completely overwhelmed as she tried to balance her son’s cancer diagnosis while raising her other children. Throughout this harrowing journey, the NCCS provided a lifeline for Ja’khari’s family through the Transportation and Emergency Assistance Funds. Their case manager provided compassionate emotional support to Naquesha, easing her worries with each conversation.
“I’m so grateful there’s a system in place like The National Children’s Cancer Society to help families like myself. The NCCS is so amazing for stepping in at the right time to provide support so that I could get my son to his treatment and help with medical expenses. I don’t know what I would have done if NCCS was not an organization,” Naquesha shared.
Savannah, leukemia warrior
At just 17, Savannah was diagnosed with leukemia. During this difficult time, The National Children’s Cancer Society was there for her family, offering crucial financial assistance for transportation and meals and providing her family with free educational resources. She benefited from our Beyond the Cure Ambassador Scholarship for four consecutive years, which played a vital role in achieving her educational and professional goals. She now works as a pediatric primary care nurse in Louisiana and is training to become a hematology and oncology nurse. Her mission is to support children battling the same illness she once faced.
Savannah shared, “Nursing was not a career I had any interest in before being diagnosed with cancer, but now I cannot imagine choosing any other path. It is a rewarding field, and working with kids brings a unique and fulfilling experience. I am passionate about helping children through their cancer journey, just as I was helped.”
Brystal, sarcoma warrior
Brystal was diagnosed with undifferential high-grade sarcoma of her left femur a month before her 11th birthday after experiencing ongoing leg, knee, and hip pain. For seven long months, Brystal and her mom faced the unimaginable—battling cancer far from their home, separated from the life they knew. As the months dragged on and her FMLA benefits ran out, Brystal’s mom, Darlene, faced the additional stress of mounting bills and worrying about how to keep their home warm in the harsh Alaskan winters. The family received crucial support through the Transportation and Emergency Assistance Funds, along with educational and emotional resources.
Darlene shared, “Thank you for supporting us and the many other families that have had to take this unexpected journey and fight for our children’s lives!”
Ashlyne, Wilms tumor warrior
Ashlyne was diagnosed with Wilms tumor, a rare type of childhood cancer that affects the kidneys, and she was transferred to their local children’s hospital to begin treatment. Through the Transportation Assistance Fund, Ashlyne’s family didn’t have to worry about how they were going to get to each appointment. The Emergency Assistance Fund helped with meals and bills so the family could focus all of their efforts on being by their daughter’s side through treatment. Vital educational and emotional resources were also provided to the family by their dedicated NCCS case manager.
Her mom, Emily, shared, “Our NCCS case manager has been a pleasure to work with and very helpful with the whole process of helping my little family. We’ve been blessed with such a wonderful resource.”
