Pediatric Cancer Awareness
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. It is a time to remember, to honor and to help families and organizations affected by pediatric cancer. Miles Funeral Home has helped too many families mourn the loss of a child from this horrific disease. To each of them we continue to offer our love, support and condolence. We take this opportunity to honor those who have overcome childhood cancer, those who suffer still, and the many people and organizations working to alleviate the pain and eradicate the disease.
In January of this year the American Cancer society updated its statistics on childhood cancer:
- About 10,470 children in the United States under the age of 15 will be diagnosed with cancer in 2022. Childhood cancer rates have been rising slightly for the past few decades.
- Because of major treatment advances in recent decades, 85% of children with cancer now survive 5 years or more.
- After accidents, cancer is the second leading cause of death in children ages 1 to 14. About 1,050 children under the age of 15 are expected to die from cancer in 2022.
Miles has worked closely with two wonderful local organizations that support families with children suffering from cancer.
- Sherry’s House https://whyme.org/sherrys-house/
Located in Tatnuck Square in Worcester, Sherry’s House provides no-cost lodging to families while their child in on active treatment in a New England area hospital. As a temporary home-away-from-home, Sherry’s House offers a comforting environment for our families. The warmth and camaraderie of Sherry’s house stand in sharp contrast to the isolation of a hotel room during what could become weeks and months of treatment.
- Notre Dame Pediatric Palliative Care https://www.notredamehealthcare.org/our-services/adult-pediatric-perinatal-palliative-care/
Notre Dame’s inclusive program provides “comprehensive, compassionate palliative care including pediatric and perinatal care.” Pediatric palliative care and hospice care includes child and family activities, support, and spiritual care.
National organizations devoted to supporting children and families with pediatric cancer include:
- American Childhood Cancer Organization is an organization designed to educate and support children with cancer and their families.
- CureSearch for Children’s Cancerfunds and supports children’s cancer research and provides information and resources to anyone affected by children’s cancer.
- Make-A-Wish Foundationgrants wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions.
- The National Children’s Cancer Society (NCCS)provides emotional, financial, and educational support to children with cancer, their families, and survivors.
Gold is the ribbon colored that designates childhood cancer. Miles Funeral Home encourages you to “go gold” in any way you can this month. Perhaps you know a local family who needs a meal, perhaps you will donate Halloween candy to one of the local organizations serving families, or you might add a family experiencing pediatric cancer to your Thanksgiving, Hanukkah or Christmas gift giving list. A donation of time, money, or prayers to a family or organization serving children with cancer will be received with tremendous gratitude.
To all those children who have won your victory over this disease we applaud your success, to those still struggling, we are cheering you on.
