Each year, The Valerie Fund chooses a group of patient ambassadors representing the patients treated at our Valerie Fund Children's Centers to speak at the Thanksgiving Ball Gala. These ambassadors share their stories of courage and perseverance and how being treated through The Valerie Fund has impacted their lives.
Join us as we meet the second group of ambassadors who showcase what it means to be a Valerie Fund kid.
Topics: Pediatric Cancer, Blood Disorders, ambassadors
The 33rd Annual Thanksgiving Ball Gala is November 22nd, and we can't wait!
Each year, The Valerie Fund chooses a group of patient ambassadors representing an array of patients treated at our Valerie Fund Children's Centers. These ambassadors share their stories of courage and perseverance and how being treated through The Valerie Fund has impacted their lives.
Join us as we meet the first group of ambassadors who showcase what it means to be a Valerie Fund kid.
Topics: Pediatric Cancer, Blood Disorders, ambassadors
I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's Burkitt lymphoma and so began my journey at The Valerie Fund Center in Goryeb's Children's Hospital. I felt spoiled most days, as the nurses, mind and body team, doctors and other people at the center would always go above and beyond to make sure I was comfortable, even though at that point that was impossible. They would book me massages, reiki treatments and aromatherapy sessions. I was able to play with the service dogs too. My nurses encouraged me to focus on getting better however that may have looked. My doctors rallied around me as I would shave my head and put new symbols in it every time. We would discuss my education and what I planned to do with it down the road. My team at the Valerie Center in Morristown became my best friends.
Topics: Pediatric Cancer, walkathon, team captains
Fall of 2012, I was a typical 21-year-old college student in Burlington, Vermont. I lived on my own, worked hard at school and managed a busy life, out with friends or at concerts when not in the classroom or at work. As such, being a bit more rundown and exhausted than usual did not strike me as anything to worry about. As Christmas break drew near, I wasn’t just tired but in pain. My stomach stopped cooperating. Every time I took a step, my stomach would hurt so bad I would stop moving. I had a large lump under my chin on one side, but not the other. I also found myself sweating even with the windows open at night in my apartment in Vermont.
Topics: Pediatric Cancer, walk, patients, team captains
Logically, I know that a healthy, cancer free body is all that matters… I’m just not 100 percent there yet.
Topics: education, Pediatric Cancer, Blood Disorders, pediatric, cancer, childhood cancer, awareness, oncology, new jersey, nonprofit, advocate, patients
Valerie Fund patient, Olivia’s story continues in this blog post.
2019 is here and I don't really know how to feel about it.
You see, on New Year’s Day of 2018, I was a newly diagnosed cancer patient. I had just underwent surgery, a bone marrow biopsy, several different scans, and was barely conscious from all of the pain medication pumping into my body. I was about to embark on nine months of agonizing treatment, both physically and emotionally. Although most of my memory from those first few days is very hazy; what I can vividly recall is sobbing over the fact that I just didn’t want to do it.
Topics: Non-profit, education, Pediatric Cancer, Blood Disorders, pediatric, cancer, childhood cancer, awareness, oncology, new jersey, nonprofit, advocate, patients
When a 17-year-old girl receives a cancer diagnosis, she experiences a tremendous loss. A loss of such enormous magnitude that she can’t even comprehend all it is that she’s losing.
A year ago, that girl was me.
Topics: Non-profit, education, Pediatric Cancer, Blood Disorders, pediatric, cancer, childhood cancer, awareness, oncology, new jersey, nonprofit, advocate, patients
Topics: Non-profit, Pediatric Cancer, Blood Disorders, Charity, pediatric, childhood cancer, sickle cell, awareness, hematology, oncology, centers, new jersey, fundraising, nonprofit, ambassadors, advocate, patients
Topics: Non-profit, Pediatric Cancer, Blood Disorders, Charity, pediatric, childhood cancer, sickle cell, awareness, hematology, oncology, centers, new jersey, fundraising, nonprofit, ambassadors, advocate, patients
A tradition that will continue is inviting current and former Valerie Fund patients to be the evening's ambassadors. Guests will have the opportunity to meet with the ambassadors both informally in the ballroom and at Learning Depots. Learning Depots allow Valerie Fund patients and caregivers to educate guests about all the services the organization has to offer.
This year's ambassadors range in age from six to 19. They come from diverse backgrounds and were diagnosed with different pediatric cancers or blood disorders. They have shared their stories on how The Valerie Fund has helped them and their families. Their responses will be featured in the Thanksgiving Ball Gala's program as well as in this series of blogs.
Topics: Non-profit, Pediatric Cancer, Blood Disorders, Charity, pediatric, childhood cancer, sickle cell, awareness, hematology, oncology, centers, new jersey, fundraising, nonprofit, ambassadors, advocate, patients
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