Camryn

Anaplastc Pleomorphic Xanthoastrocytoma (APXA), age 10

Every time I am at the Valerie Center, all of the staff treats me like a member of their family. It doesn’t feel like I’m at the Doctor’s office. They play with me, tell jokes with me, and we have a good time. 

The Valerie Fund has helped our family get through long hospital stays, bringing me games to play and supplies to make slime. They gave us gift cards to order food while I was in the hospital and made sure my brothers and sister were ok at home. We loved making slime so much that my twin sister and I are donating over 100 slime kits back to the hospital for other kids going through similar situations. 

I enjoy arts and crafts, dancing to and listening to Taylor Swift, making videos with my sister, and gymnastics. I also love riding my scooter, doing my mom and my sister’s hair, and playing with my cats and dogs.

Charlotte

HR B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, age3

Whenever Charlotte has to go to clinic, she looks forward to the toys and crafts. Child Life Specialist, Brie gave Charlotte a doll early in her treatment that she could practice giving meds to. This doll helped tremendously with Char taking her oral chemo meds. 

For the past two years, our family has attended The Valerie Fund’s Morgan Stanley Rec Day at The Turtle Back Zoo. These days have come at times when we’ve needed a break from the reality of childhood cancer the most. They’ve provided Charlotte with amazing memories outside of her treatment, allowing her to be a kid. For that, I’m forever grateful. 

Charlotte will be in treatment until March 2024. When we are not at clinic, she loves playing outside with her little sister Ella, going on nature walks, and singing along to every Disney movies she’s memorized! Char also loves baking banana bread, cookies and muffins with her Gramma!
    -written by Charlotte’s Mom

Colton

Pre B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, relapse 12/2020, age 10

I dressed up in costumes for every visit to The Valerie Fund Center for treatment. The doctors and other kids loved guessing who I would dress up as next! My parents always had support and help from people at the Center. Everyone became like a family to us and we will be forever grateful.

Now that I am two years post bone marrow transplant, I am back at school full time after four years away! I am riding my horses again, playing baseball and basketball, and love riding my four wheeler in the cornfields. I have also organized a toy drive for the treasure box. I like to pay it forward every chance I get.

Georgia

Wilms Tumor, age 3 1/2 

The Valerie Fund was instrumental in making treatment as easy as possible. We benefited from the nutritionist, educational support, child life, social work, and beyond. Every time we went to treatment, a load was lifted off me because I knew we were taken care of. They helped me get through the hardest part of my life. Georgia has said that she misses treatment and I know that it is because she misses the people and the care she received.

Having a Valerie Fund Child Life Specialist helping at in-patient, out-patient and even ER visits was a blessing. One day Georgia was fussing, so Kelly “geared up” her office for water play. Georgia had the time of her life making bubbles and filling syringes with bubbly water. She made a mess but the happiness was worth it. 

Georgia is one year cancer free and is thriving in pre-school, dance class, and distance running. 
    -written by Georgia’s Mom

Jack

T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, age 10

My favorite times are when Child Life Specialist, Miss Brie lets me pick a Lego set to build to pass the time. I also love getting massages during treatment.

The Valerie Fund hosts fun events like a trip to the zoo with other cancer families. They also surprised us with a back-to-school gift card. Outside of treatment I enjoy playing soccer and playing video games.

Kaitlyn

Thrombocytopenia, age 11

The Child Life specialist makes a very scary and difficult situation much easier on Kaitlyn. We feel very lucky to have amazing and compassionate doctors and staff working with our daughter. It was at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital that Kaitlyn decided that she wants to be a Hematologist! Our family, friends and staff at The Valerie Fund, as well as Dr. Muhlbauer, truly support Kaitlyn as we navigate this rare blood disorder. 

Kaitlyn is a very talented artist and musician. She loves anime and art in general, plays clarinet for the school band, has been playing electric guitar for three years and is currently loving running Cross Country at her school!

Madison

B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Age 6

The support from The Valerie Fund was amazing for Madison during such a hard time with COVID. Kaitlyn Murtagh was a wonderful advocate for school, helping advocate for Madison’s IEP. Natalie Nageeb was wonderful in helping Madison achieve braveness and being strong within herself as she tapped into her feelings about Cancer and COVID, all while only being 6 years old. Child Life Specialist Brie was that sunshine of a person who out a smile on Madison’s face with puzzles and crafts to distract her.  

Madison is now finished with treatment and is so happy. She plays with her friends and has sleepovers without worrying about getting fevers and going to the hospital. She plays softball and plays third base. She loves to dance and make videos of her dancing.
    -written by Madison and her Mom