Remind everyone how Four Diamonds really helps families after a pediatric cancer diagnosis.
Sure. When somebody finds out that their child has cancer, typically one of the first things
they think is, am I in the right place to get the right care. And thankfully, our Children's
hospital has exceptional care to offer Children and families in our region. And then the second
thing they usually think about is how am I going to pay for all of this? And that's why. Wherefore
diamonds has an opportunity to step in and help a family to alleviate that question about the
financial pressures of cancer. Were able to remove that burden for every single four diamonds family
so that the parents and the siblings and the entire family can focus on what's most important,
which is making sure that this child has the best opportunity to beat cancer and be well. Yeah,
that's just so wonderful that you're able to do that. I know Jackson's family was so appreciative
of small gestures like just meal vouchers, how does the team really determine the family's needs?
Their very first point of contact related to four diamonds is typically a social worker and that
social work team is supported by Four Diamonds, and they are there throughout the entire journey.
So, this is somebody who's not in a white coat, not ADM ministering any kind of therapy. So,
there's a high level of trust that builds between the patient and the social work team member and
they're really the initial eyes and ears to see does this family needs some additional emotional
support? Are we sure that everybody is getting what they need and then the care teams all have
daily rounds that they're talking about, what is needed for each family. In terms of medical care
nurse don't care any special services and you're right, the families think can really concentrate
on their child. Exactly. And when we're taking away something like, how am I gonna pay to get
to a chemotherapy infusion every day for a month? We want to make sure that that's not a barrier for
the care that the child needs to receive. We're also acknowledging every single person in that
family is a human being, are their needs being met too? Let's talk about research to find a
cure for pediatric cancer is really so important. Let's talk about how Four Diamonds really help and
thought really helped to support the research. It's one of the most exciting things I think
that has changed in the last 10 years that after the covering all the costs of care for all of our
kids every single year, because the community has supported us in such a monumental way. We've been
able to devote even more resources to finding a cure, finding better treatments. We continue to
ask the questions, why does this happen? How does it happen? Could we diagnose it early failure and
find better ways to treat this. We know that research is the thing that will lead us to the
day that there is a cure for childhood cancer that benefits all kids in central Pennsylvania,
but really all over the world and we certainly do appreciate all the research that's going on
Now. Let's talk about last year. That was quite a celebration with the 50th anniversary broke. A lot
of records. Tell us what's been happening since that time. Well, the exciting thing, you know,
the money obviously is what fuels us to be able to do our work. But I loved thinking about what
is the care and concern and love that goes into every one of those dollars that is about the
community responding saying this is important, we want to help these kids and we're so appreciative
for that. And it has made it possible for our department head of pediatrics to put together
a new strategic initiative and looking at things like advanced diagnostics. How do we
diagnose earlier and advanced therapeutics? How do we look at what's the genetic makeup
of an individual child to say? Here's the way that we can pinpoint their specific cancer and
how their body reacts to a medication and create that very specialized treatment plan. And then
it also gives us opportunity to continue to work on survivorship issues because a lot of Children
that have treatment for cancer are going to have some fairly significant side effects from that
treatment. And as they mature into adults. It's important for them to understand those risks,
take ownership of their health and monitor for any of those side effects that might happen.
We just watched the mini thon piece. It's really amazing what middle and high school students do.
What are some of your favorite moments? Oh, I, you know, I just love the learning
that happens through mini THON and I love when two schools will collaborate and do something
together because really this is about everybody working together to um search for a cure. Yeah.
And they're amazing. Let's get back to Big Thought. Last year really was an incredible
fundraising success. How will you top it this year? Well, we start at zero every year. So,
we rely on the community to help us stop it every year. Um and we have events planned all throughout
the year. There's fundraising that happens from the mid that fun ends until thon weekend starts
again the next year. We are constantly in that building stage telling our story telling the
story of the kids who are helped and really relying on our community to help us get to
even higher heights than we've been at previous years. Yeah, now we also want to tell our viewers
that we will be airing a special program live on Saturday, February 18th at seven o'clock
from thong along with several other abc affiliates across the state and also in new York city. So why
don't you talk to us about that? That's gonna be a great opportunity to take the viewer right
there. It really is. And we're grateful to abc27 for helping us to make it possible for
everybody in central Pennsylvania to tune in at seven on next Saturday night and really be part
of what's happening on the floor live, thought weekend learning about how these students are
volunteering, learning about the families who are being helped and really just getting to be part of
the magic that happens in the Bryce Jordan center every year. The color and the music and the spirit
of hope and love that surrounds all of it. It's really exciting and we're excited that we have
this opportunity to bring that to your viewers. And you had mentioned hope. Really that is what
this is all about. What's what is it going to be that day when we find the cure? I mean,
really, we talk a lot that day. We will dance in celebration for every child and the possibility of
a world without childhood cancer. And until then we will keep dancing until we find that cure.