Families

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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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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My View Looking Forward

My View Looking Forward

Before cancer, I was never a morning person, but now I love waking up in my home with the entire family under one roof. Most nights, I wake up around 3 am in a panic. Did I dream up this terrible nightmare that my 4-year-old son had cancer and had four inches of his leg cut off? I rush to Gus’s room to check on him and sometimes lay next to him. I tell him I love him to the moon and back and that I am so proud of him. I know these moments are what matter most in life. Right now, it is easy to get sidetracked by arguments over vaccine hesitancy or mask mandates that are still in place. I wish everyone would slow down and view this as an opportunity to help their neighbor. Believe me, it could be so much worse. I have watched a handful of families lose their children to childhood cancer and have been humbled and blessed by their friendship.  We share the common bond of childhood cancer....

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Discovering the Reality of Childhood Cancer Treatment

Discovering the Reality of Childhood Cancer Treatment

On our diagnosis day, we were told that our four-year-old Gus had Ewing Sarcoma. What doctors didn’t know was the particular type or variant he had. Tumor Sequencing Tumor sequencing is vital, as some variants of Ewing’s sarcomas have poorer outcomes, require specific drugs, and prohibit the use of other drugs. The variant determines the treatment plan. Parents need to know the type of cancer their child is fighting- and if the hospital doesn’t know, parents should demand to have the tumor genetically sequenced. As Dean taught me, “The pathology report is king.” Treatment I could go on and on about the horrors of the treatment Gus endured: scary nights when our son’s heart was beating so fast it seemed as though he was having a heart attack… or beating so slowly that he was unresponsive; the endless needle pokes for blood and platelet transfusions; the horrific bowel movement issues;...

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Families

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
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
My View Looking Forward

My View Looking Forward

Before cancer, I was never a morning person, but now I love waking up in my home with the entire family under one roof. Most nights, I wake up around 3 am in a panic. Did I dream up this terrible nightmare that my 4-year-old son had cancer and had four inches of his leg cut off? I rush to Gus’s room to check on him and sometimes lay next to him. I tell him I love him to the moon and back and that I am so proud of him. I know these moments are what matter most in life. Right now, it is easy to...

read more
Discovering the Reality of Childhood Cancer Treatment

Discovering the Reality of Childhood Cancer Treatment

On our diagnosis day, we were told that our four-year-old Gus had Ewing Sarcoma. What doctors didn’t know was the particular type or variant he had. Tumor Sequencing Tumor sequencing is vital, as some variants of Ewing’s sarcomas have poorer outcomes, require specific drugs, and prohibit the use of other drugs. The variant determines the treatment plan. Parents need to know the type of cancer their child is fighting- and if the hospital doesn’t know, parents should demand to have the tumor...

read more

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