According to the American Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO), over 15,700 children are diagnosed with cancer each year. This includes children from birth to 19 years of age. The most common childhood cancers include leukemia, lymphoma, brain cancers, bone cancers, and rhabdomyosarcoma.
It is devastating for parents to discover their child has cancer. When a child has cancer, there are many hurdles to overcome. One of these hurdles is medical expenses. Many hospitals and organizations set up a child cancer donation program to help families in need. There are also several charities that help in other ways.
Here are three ways charities help children with cancer.
1. Transportation
Children with cancer often have many doctor appointments. At times, these appointments can be difficult to get to. Maybe the family only has one vehicle and they need it for work or they don't have a vehicle at all. Because transportation is such a necessity for families who have a child with cancer, some communities have established charities that focus on transporting the child to the hospital or clinic.
2. Living Arrangements
It's not uncommon for children with cancer to have long-term hospital stays. It's also not uncommon for families to travel far from home for their children to receive the specialized care that they need. The combination of long-term hospital stays and being away from home can cause a huge issue for families. Many of them cannot afford to stay in a hotel. Hospitals that provide pediatric cancer treatment are normally found in larger communities. These communities often have charities that provide families with a home away from home.
This is a temporary type of living arrangement that allows the parents to stay near the hospital when their child receives treatment. These homes away from home often have private bedrooms and bathrooms, a kitchen that is shared with other families, and a playroom for the kids.
3. Experiences
The childhood of one with cancer usually looks much different than other children's. Because of their sickness, they are often forced to miss out on fun activities and just simply being a kid. To make up for this, many charities provide a way for a child to have a fun and fulfilling experience. Many of these experiences are bucket list items such as traveling or meeting a favorite celebrity. When children can have these types of fulfilling experiences, it temporarily takes their mind off their illness and provides them with hope for their future.
For more information on how to help, contact a child cancer donation program.