Rally Stories

What a Difference a Decade Makes

What a Difference a Decade Makes

May of 2013 brought the last dose of chemo for my daughter, Danielle. Back then it was hard to see or even think about what life would be like ten years down the road. Honestly, I wouldn’t even allow myself to look that far ahead. Danielle was diagnosed with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia in January of 2011. When the genetic testing came back on her leukemia about a month after diagnosis, it was not good news. She had all the bad markers and none of the good ones. I chose to focus on the fact that, one month in, she was responding well to treatment and was technically in remission. We just kept marching on. But it never left my mind that this unfavorable genetic news was lurking in the background. Her treatment had five phases with names…induction, consolidation, interim maintenance, delayed intensification and maintenance. As I lived in this world and watched other families...

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What Would You Tell a Newly Diagnosed ALL Family? | Part 2

What Would You Tell a Newly Diagnosed ALL Family? | Part 2

Did your family receive a new diagnosis of ALL? We know that sometimes the best people to talk to during moments such as these are those that have been through it themselves. Here at Rally we talked extensively with three ALL mothers who are in the unique position to offer their personal advice and observations during this journey. This is Part II of the wisdom and practical advice from Rally Moms Amy, Brigitte, and Nour. About Your Marriage / Relationship:  Brigette: Consider marriage counseling even if you are in a good place in your marriage. Treatment has a way of dividing marriages many times before you realize it.  Amy: If you are married, protect your marriage. Our experience was that of becoming roommates who rarely saw each other, were always tired, were always stressed, and were not able to have conversations beyond treatment decisions, dealing with siblings, and the very...

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Wisdom and Advice from ALL Rally Moms | Part 1

Wisdom and Advice from ALL Rally Moms | Part 1

If you’re reading this, someone you know, it might even be your child, may have been diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). As shocking as it might be, Rally Foundation wants you to know that you are not alone. We are here for you. We know that you have a thousand questions, so we went straight to the moms who have children with ALL to hear their personal advice and observations. This is Part I of the wisdom and practical advice from three Rally ALL moms: Amy, Brigitte and Nour. About Expectations: Amy: This is a marathon. Everything is overwhelming in the beginning, and people, including doctors, will tell you that the next phase is easier. They aren't lying, but honestly, it doesn't often seem easier. Two to three years is a long time. The phases come and go, and each has their own ease and their own challenges. The treatment plan is a guideline. You cannot plan around...

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Meet Rally Kid Keren. Again.

Meet Rally Kid Keren. Again.

Yes, you have met her before. Five years ago, Rally Kid Keren was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a soft tissue cancer. Her fight included chemotherapy, radiation and an amputation. Throughout treatment Keren showed her resilience and kept a positive outlook. With the unwavering support of her parents, Kelly and Jonathan, and her older brother Jacob and younger sister Lyla, Keren rang the bell in 2019. She had to continue with physical therapy and deal with multiple side effects from her treatment. A heavy blow came in 2021 to Keren, her family and friends. Doctors diagnosed Keren with a new cancer, osteosarcoma, a bone cancer. Unfortunately, it is a side effect of her initial cancer treatment. Cancer. Again. More brutal chemotherapy. Radical shoulder surgery. So many nights in the hospital. Missed the first semester of high school. But, through it all Keren remained resilient and...

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Pediatric Cancer Dad Discovers a Promising Novel Approach to Wilms’ Tumors

Pediatric Cancer Dad Discovers a Promising Novel Approach to Wilms’ Tumors

Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research (Rally) likes funding outside-the-box ideas and, at times, funding outside-of-the-box researchers: those who we normally not consider as a scientific researcher. Rally is thrilled to share recent developments from an outside-the-box researcher and his study of Wilms’ Tumor. The study emerges from the Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute (cc-TDI) in Beaverton, Oregon, in collaboration with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Rally-funded researcher Andy Woods leads the study published in Pediatric Blood & Cancer (link Pediatric Blood & Cancer). But first, who is this outside-of-the-box researcher Andy Woods? Andy Woods is a college-educated stone and tile mason from Montana. He is also a Dad. A dad who heard the devasting words, “Your child has cancer.” When his daughter, Stellablue, was four years old, she was...

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One step at a time, one prayer at a time

One step at a time, one prayer at a time

Normal is defined as conforming to a standard; usual, typical or expected. My name is Sarah Gossling and I am one of Rally Kid Grant’s older sisters. Almost eight years ago, on June 18, 2014, my brother was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma. My world was shattered. I was about to go into third grade when Grant was diagnosed, and I can remember trying to keep any bit of the normalcy that I had before I learned the word cancer. Before Grant was diagnosed, we were your average family. Four kids (and one addition later on), a whole lot of crazy, and not a care in the world. We loved traveling and going on adventures. We loved to swim together, play together and drive mom and dad crazy. If you caught us on a good day and the house was clean, it wouldn't be long before my brothers Grant and James were making messes. We were just kids being kids. Once Grant was diagnosed, it was harder to...

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Rally Stories

What a Difference a Decade Makes

What a Difference a Decade Makes

May of 2013 brought the last dose of chemo for my daughter, Danielle. Back then it was hard to see or even think about what life would be like ten years down the road. Honestly, I wouldn’t even allow myself to look that far ahead. Danielle was diagnosed with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia in January of 2011. When the genetic testing came back on her leukemia about a month after diagnosis, it was not good news. She had all the bad markers and none of the good ones. I chose to focus on...

read more
What Would You Tell a Newly Diagnosed ALL Family? | Part 2

What Would You Tell a Newly Diagnosed ALL Family? | Part 2

Did your family receive a new diagnosis of ALL? We know that sometimes the best people to talk to during moments such as these are those that have been through it themselves. Here at Rally we talked extensively with three ALL mothers who are in the unique position to offer their personal advice and observations during this journey. This is Part II of the wisdom and practical advice from Rally Moms Amy, Brigitte, and Nour. About Your Marriage / Relationship:  Brigette: Consider marriage...

read more
Wisdom and Advice from ALL Rally Moms | Part 1

Wisdom and Advice from ALL Rally Moms | Part 1

If you’re reading this, someone you know, it might even be your child, may have been diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). As shocking as it might be, Rally Foundation wants you to know that you are not alone. We are here for you. We know that you have a thousand questions, so we went straight to the moms who have children with ALL to hear their personal advice and observations. This is Part I of the wisdom and practical advice from three Rally ALL moms: Amy, Brigitte and Nour....

read more
Meet Rally Kid Keren. Again.

Meet Rally Kid Keren. Again.

Yes, you have met her before. Five years ago, Rally Kid Keren was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a soft tissue cancer. Her fight included chemotherapy, radiation and an amputation. Throughout treatment Keren showed her resilience and kept a positive outlook. With the unwavering support of her parents, Kelly and Jonathan, and her older brother Jacob and younger sister Lyla, Keren rang the bell in 2019. She had to continue with physical therapy and deal with multiple side effects from her...

read more
Pediatric Cancer Dad Discovers a Promising Novel Approach to Wilms’ Tumors

Pediatric Cancer Dad Discovers a Promising Novel Approach to Wilms’ Tumors

Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research (Rally) likes funding outside-the-box ideas and, at times, funding outside-of-the-box researchers: those who we normally not consider as a scientific researcher. Rally is thrilled to share recent developments from an outside-the-box researcher and his study of Wilms’ Tumor. The study emerges from the Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute (cc-TDI) in Beaverton, Oregon, in collaboration with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center....

read more
One step at a time, one prayer at a time

One step at a time, one prayer at a time

Normal is defined as conforming to a standard; usual, typical or expected. My name is Sarah Gossling and I am one of Rally Kid Grant’s older sisters. Almost eight years ago, on June 18, 2014, my brother was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma. My world was shattered. I was about to go into third grade when Grant was diagnosed, and I can remember trying to keep any bit of the normalcy that I had before I learned the word cancer. Before Grant was diagnosed, we were your average family. Four...

read more

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