The Valerie Fund Blog

Summer should be about fun and having a good time for kids. They get a break from their routine and schoolwork and can finally relax - enjoy being a kid! However, for those kids battling sickle cell disease, summer brings with it certain risks. We want to share some tips on how to maximize your child's summer enjoyment without risking their health, a possible pain episode, or injury. 

Topics: moms, sickle cell, caregivers, hematology, patients, nutrition

2020 will be a year of many firsts and The Valerie Fund's Camp Happy Times will follow suit. For the first time ever, Camp Happy Times is going virtual but that doesn't mean our kids are not going to get a robust and fun-filled experience with the fellow campers and counselors they've come to love. 

Topics: camp happy times, hematology, oncology, patients, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented many new challenges for the patients and families of The Valerie Fund in these past months but the staff of The Valerie Fund Children's Centers have never wavered. They are true healthcare heroes who brave the front lines of the hospitals to ensure our kids are not only receiving their regular treatment but are also supported mentally and emotionally during this incredibly difficult time. Here are some stories of our healthcare heroes and how they've been there for our kids. 

Topics: caregivers, hematology, oncology, patients, Center Staff, 2020

 

Unfortunately, stress is something everyone can understand. We all have stress in our lives and most likely we would all say we have too much of it. Left unchecked, stress can begin to affect both your mental and physical well-being. October has been designated as National Emotional Wellness Month and this week's blog provides some helpful ways to learn how to slow down and breathe.

While emotional wellness is important for everyone, it is critical for parents and families of children treated by The Valerie Fund. A pediatric cancer or blood disorder diagnosis presents new levels of stress for parents and families and it is imperative that everyone be as healthy as possible - physically and mentally - throughout this process. 

Topics: child life, moms, caregivers, hematology, oncology, centers, Center Staff

The month of September means two things: it is National Sickle Cell Awareness Month and it's time for back to school!

Topics: Blood Disorders, moms, sickle cell, awareness, hematology, patients

There are so many new words and phrases that a family must learn when they begin a journey through pediatric cancer or blood disorders and it can be difficult to keep track of what they all mean. In the coming months we will try to explain what some of these concepts and practices are and hope it can help make this process just a little bit easier. 

We are starting with a discipline that encompasses many tools and practices under one umbrella. Continue reading to learn why integrative medicine can make a difference when battling pediatric cancer or blood disorders. 

Topics: integrative medicine, Blood Disorders, cancer, caregivers, hematology, oncology, centers, science, patients, Center Staff

Community events are an integral part of The Valerie Fund's ability to support families dealing with pediatric cancer and blood disorders. Support from friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors not only result in increased fundraising but also in an outpouring of personal and emotional support. Keep reading to learn about some of our upcoming community events!

Topics: hematology, oncology, events, community events, fundraising, volunteers, give back

The men and women who work in The Valerie Fund Children's Centers across New Jersey and New York are the backbone of our mission to support comprehensive healthcare services for children with cancer and blood disorders. We wanted to share just how amazing they are so we invite you to learn a little bit more about them.

Topics: caregivers, hematology, centers, Center Staff

Summer should be about fun and having a good time for kids. They get a break from their routine and schoolwork and can finally relax - enjoy being a kid! However, for those kids battling sickle cell disease, summer brings with it certain risks. We want to share some tips on how to maximize your child's summer enjoyment without risking their health, a possible pain episode, or injury. 

Topics: moms, sickle cell, caregivers, hematology, patients, nutrition

Valerie Fund scholarship donors, board members, staff and parents recognized 25 of the 36 named scholarship recipients at the Maplewood Country Club in Maplewood, NJ on January 3, 2019. In total, 93 former and current Valerie Fund patients were awarded scholarships for the 2018 - 2019 academic year totaling $430,000 in scholarship money to attend college and universities, from local community colleges and vocational programs, to Ivy Leagues, nursing, and medical school.

Topics: education, childhood cancer, sickle cell, scholarship, awareness, scholarship program, hematology, oncology, survivor, new jersey, fundraising, nonprofit