The Valerie Fund Blog

The Valerie Fund Children's Centers are home to many healthcare heroes who support our kids during some of the most difficult times of their lives. These caregivers are experts in a variety of practices. We will be showcasing each service provided in our Children's Centers and hearing from the healthcare providers in their own words what they do for our kids and families. In this installment, we are going to learn about our Psychology specialists. 

Many people do not realize that ringing the bell after a child's final treatment for cancer is often not the end of the story. Almost two out of three children experience some sort of long-term effect from cancer but these battles are not often publicized. June 6th is a day to counter that as we join our community in celebrating National Cancer Survivors Day.

The Valerie Fund Children's Centers are home to many healthcare heroes who support our kids during some of the most difficult times of their lives. These caregivers are experts in a variety of practices. We will be showcasing each service provided in our Children's Centers and hearing from the healthcare providers in their own words what they do for our kids and families. In this installment, we are going to learn about our Palliative Care & Integrative Medicine specialists. 

The Valerie Fund Children's Center at The Unterberg Children's Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center is getting a brand new face to support our patients. We'd like to introduce you to the new Child Life Specialist, Casey Gilman. 

The Valerie Fund Children's Centers are home to many healthcare heroes who support our kids during some of the most difficult times of their lives. These caregivers are experts in a variety of practices. We will be showcasing each service provided in our Children's Centers and hearing from the healthcare providers in their own words what they do for our kids and families. In this installment, we are going to learn about the Educational Liaisons.

As many as two out of every three childhood cancer survivors will develop at least one late-onset complication. These situations can require an additional and specific set of responses from a patient's team of caregivers. The Valerie Fund is thrilled to introduce you to one of our newest caregivers who specializes in this group of patients. 

The Valerie Fund Children's Centers are home to many healthcare heroes who support our kids during some of the most difficult times of their lives. These caregivers are experts in a variety of practices. We will be showcasing each service provided in our Children's Centers and hearing from the healthcare providers in their own words what they do for our kids and families. In this installment, we are going to learn about the Child Life Specialists and Social Workers.

Thanksgiving is an important time of year. We are reminded to slow down and focus on what we are thankful for and the blessings that have come our way. For our Valerie Fund families, the healthcare professionals who treat their children are at the top of these lists. At the recent Thanksgiving Ball Gala, we honored our Healthcare Heroes by spotlighting individuals from the different disciplines we provide in our Valerie Fund's Children's Centers. 

Dr. Heather Ginter is a Clinical Psychologist at The Valerie Fund Children's Center at the Goryeb Children's Hospital at Morristown Medical Center. She works with Valerie Fund kids every day but her job changed substantially when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. In her own words, she describes this new normal we are in and discusses some of the effects on our families. 

Valerie Fund Social Worker Stephanie Heasman of Morristown Medical Center has seen the power of timely and specially designated financial assistance. She says, “as social workers, we take pride in easing the burden of (a family’s) current situation to allow them to focus on caring for their child. Emergency funds have been crucial to our families, especially during the beginning weeks and months following diagnosis.”