My name is Stephanie Ogle, and I am writing to ask that we all remember that September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

Like many, I was previously unaware that Childhood Cancer Awareness Month even existed. I did not know that a gold ribbon was the symbol for pediatric cancer. I am ashamed to admit that I knew very little about childhood cancer at all. I am asking you to please recognize September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month to help raise the awareness of our community.

Raising awareness about pediatric cancer has become an issue of utmost importance to me and my family. You see, I am the mom of a beautiful four-year-old little boy who was diagnosed with cancer last year. On Nov. 29, 2007, one of our worst nightmares was confirmed when we learned that Peyton has Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

While we were still reeling with shock and grief, Peyton began treatment here at T.C. Thompson’s Children’s Hospital on Dec. 3. My small son takes chemotherapy every day, and he will for nearly three and one-half years. He has seen and he knows things that no four year old should ever know even exist. His days and weeks are marked by clinic visits and medication schedules. Yet despite the scary tests and painful procedures, the hospitalizations, the frightening complications, and the awful side-effects, Peyton is fighting with a courage and grace that belie his tender years. He is a bright, extremely loving child who amazes us each and every day. He loves golf and the space shuttle. He loves his family and cares about others in a way that is rare for a small child. My son is my hero.

Sadly, Peyton is far from the only little warrior battling this nightmarish disease. You have only to visit our local pediatric oncology clinic on the fifth floor of the Massoud Building at Children’s to meet many other brave little people also engaged in a fight for their very lives every day. It will shatter your heart into a million pieces, but I promise that it will give you far more than it takes. These kids will inspire you in ways that you can’t imagine.

Pediatric cancer kills more kids each year than asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis and AIDS combined. Even so, only one cancer drug has been approved for use in children in the last 20 years. A mere three percent of the budget for the National Cancer Institute goes towards pediatric cancers. 12,500 of our precious children will be diagnosed with cancer this year.

Many of those who survive the brutal treatments will be scarred in ways that will greatly affect their quality of life. Those who do not survive leave behind devastated families with heartbreakingly empty arms.

These young heroes deserve our help and our support. You have the power to spread the word about pediatric cancer and the need for funding. More awareness means more research dollars towards a cure. So please, on behalf of our children who are fighting cancer every day and the families who love them, let your audience know that September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and encourage them to help support finding a cure.

Until there is a cure,

Stephanie Ogle
Signal Mountain
babypeyton2004@yahoo.com

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We would like to respond to Stephanie regarding September and Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month... and send our prayers to Peyton and his family.

Many of us who have children with or have lost children to pediatric cancer are focused on stopping the ravages of this disease. As busy as most of our lives are sometimes it is easy to forget the risk that is present to all children. With more than 80% of children now surviving what just a few years ago was a death sentence the international focus for Pediatric Oncology is to improved the quality of life of the families and children effected by this terrible disease.

That is not to say we should stop researching the causes and cures but to add to the focus ways to help the children and their families cope and compensate emotionally, academically and financially for the effects pediatric cancer has on the child, their siblings and the family as a unit.

From our loss we have worked to build a landmark program to help with many of the needs that seemed to have been overlooked.

The Austin Hatcher Foundation for a carefree childhood mission is tasked to help resolve the issues facing the cancer effected children and their families.

We are working to open the first Hatch's House of Hope in Chattanooga this year..2008 as a way the foundation can help.

Hatch’s House of Hope

Hatch’s House of Hope serves as a safe haven for families dealing with the effects of pediatric cancer on their lives. Staff at Hatch's integrates the specific needs of the family with hospital based and community services. The staff works towards developing additional services not provided elsewhere but needed to help children and their families affected by pediatric cancer function within our communities. Specifically, these include IEP Neurocognative testing, educational programming to help effected children overcome their cognitive and learning deficits, emotional counseling for the cancer effected child, their siblings and parents, and marital and financial counseling to ensure a safe environment to maximize the family growth as a whole. Through Hatch's the Austin Hatcher Foundation provides Bridging Scholarships (Hatch's Dollars) to assist families with acute financial discord resulting from the direct expenses and salary losses as a result of the pediatric cancer.

Hatch's Dollars are awarded based on extreme financial need. Non-cash support is also available in the form of gas cards and grocery/food vouchers. Hatch's staff makes every effort to communicate the family’s financial situation to creditors, including utility companies, at the family’s approval to arrange alternative payment options during the treatment stage of pediatric cancer.
Hatch's staff works within the local and regional communities to provide diversionary therapies for families affected by pediatric cancer in an effort to return some normalcy of a cohesive family unit to their lives and develop positive family memories and activities necessary for health bodies and minds.

Hatch's serves as a Research Center for pediatric cancer related issues and learning deficits affecting children and families worldwide. Hatch's house of hopes will be built near Medical Centers treating Pediatric Cancer nationwide.

Programming:

• Child Care: during appointments and treatments
• Financial counseling
• Diversionary therapies
• Marital counseling
• Grief/bereavement service
• Peer support group: Parent, sibling, and effected child
• Educational advancement services
• IEP and Neurocognitive testing
Services provided at Hatch's are free of charge to families accepted for care.

Please contact us if you are interested in opening a Hatch’s house of hope in your area.

We would love to invite Chattanoogans to get involved.

Visit www.hatcherfoundation.org for more information.

Stephanie.... Petyon and your family are in our prayers.

Jim Osborn
Chairman,
Austin Hatcher Foundation
jim@hatcherfoundation.org