As a picturesque snowfall gently fell outside, many of the Mahoning Valley’s bravest children and their families celebrated the holidays inside. It was an evening to just be a child. To temporarily let go of the painful and stressful times … and instead just have some fun. Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley’s annual Hematology-Oncology holiday […]
“Dr. Talai” delights our son Colton again and again
When our son Colton was diagnosed with a rare bleeding disorder at birth in 2002, our family entered a world we were unsure of. No one in either of our families dealt with a chronic illness. Our first year was rough. We had no idea how to protect our son from internal bleeding. We depended […]
Teen Group for oncology patients finds a friend in NBA’s Matthew Dellavedova
The “Teen Group” at Akron Children’s Hospital’s Showers Family Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders is a support group for oncology patients who have been or are being treated at Akron Children’s. I was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL, which is a childhood cancer of the bone marrow and blood) when I was 16 years old. […]
Journey from Mexico was last hope for boy with leukemia
When their son Eduardo’s leukemia returned last year, Javier and Guadalupe Canada were out of options. The couple didn’t have access to advanced pediatric cancer care where they lived in Calpulalpan, Mexico. They hoped to bring Eduardo to the United States for treatment, but they were unable to get visas. Eduardo, however, was born in […]
Tragedy strikes twice in two weeks for Youngstown mom and daughter
Two weeks after her father died of a sudden illness, 2-year-old Nya Williams was diagnosed with cancer. It came out of the blue, said Nya’s mother. She pondered her suddenly changing future during a life flight ride from Boardman to Akron where a leukemia diagnosis would be confirmed. “I kept asking myself, ‘What did I […]
Austintown family is tougher together as they battle leukemia Parents draw strength from bravery of 5-year-old son with cancer
Lori and Oscar Hoit of Austintown are still waiting for their “new normal” to kick in after their son, Connor, was diagnosed with leukemia last year. Until then, it’s one day at a time, if not one second at a time, as they try to adjust to their new lives as parents of a child […]
