To All of Our Supporters
April 18, 2017
Listed below is an update of some families we have been helping since our last report in February.
Gemma, a five year old, resides in Mechanicsburg with her parents and two sisters and was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia in the fall of 2016. She will need to complete four extensive rounds of chemotherapy. Prior to Gemma’s diagnosis, her mother was a child care provider in their home, but because she needs to take her daughter for frequent treatments, and sometimes stays overnight in the hospital with her, she is unable to work. The Foundation was able to help purchase a new vehicle for the family so Gemma is able to get to the hospital when necessary and her dad is able to continue with his job and support the family.
When Theresa was diagnosed with metastatic osteosarcoma of her right leg, she was just 10 years old. The last two years passed with several courses of chemotherapy and, ultimately, an amputation of her leg. Theresa has learned to walk with a prosthetic and has regained some of her lost independence. While her parents were able to manage financially the first several years of her illness, circumstances changed early this year and the Foundation helped them with rent and utilities to help ease them through this difficult period.
Kimberly’s diagnosis of Hepatoblastoma came when she was just 21 months old. She received chemotherapy as well as surgical resection of her tumor. Kimberly and her twin sister were born prematurely and spent many weeks in the NICU following their birth. The resulting Early Intervention services for developmental delays related to her prematurity and oncology treatments have stressed the family’s resources. Both parents took time off from work to be with Kimberly while she was being treated. The Foundation was able to give them a bit of assistance this year while they continue with quarterly pediatric oncology scans and physician visits.
Lancaster native, Rebekah, is a 15 year old who was diagnosed with clival chondroma, a very rare childhood cancer in June of 2016. She underwent resection shortly after her diagnosis and received several months of proton radiation therapy. Because Rebekah’s mother and step-father needed to transport her daily to CHOP in Philadelphia for treatment, the family’s financial resources were severely stressed. The Foundation was able to make three mortgage payments for the family.
Fifteen year old Hannah is a resident of Dillsburg where she lives with her parents and siblings. She was diagnosed with spinal cord astrocytoma and has been treated with radiation therapy and surgical biopsies. The tumor is stable but remains, causing multiple complications for Hannah. The family sometimes had to relocate, for weeks at a time, while Hannah received treatment in Philadelphia. The Foundation paid three months’ rent to help the family ease their strained resources.
We thank you for your continued support of the Jeff Musser Foundation. Your generosity makes it possible to ease some of the financial stress that these families often experience. None of this would be possible without all of you!
Jeff and Pam,
The Board and Committee