To All of Our Supporters,
Listed below is an update on some families we have been helping since our last report.
Three-year-old Rosie had already been in treatment for two years when a friend of the Foundation reached out to us for assistance. Following her diagnosis of a rare, aggressive tumor of the central nervous system in the brain, her parents raised funds using GoFundMe and were able to manage until lost income became too much of an issue. The Foundation covered multiple mortgage payments for the family.
The treatment plan for each pediatric oncology patient is another factor that impacts a family’s financial situation. Laela was eight years old when she was diagnosed with Burkitt’s lymphoma. Her treatment plan consisted of intensive impatient chemotherapy which would result in her spending most of five to six months in the hospital. In addition to wanting to spend as much time in the hospital with Laela as possible, there were four other siblings for which to care and a lot of lost wages for dad. The Foundation was able to assist the family with mortgage payments while Laela was receiving treatment.
We’ve gotten more referrals, in the last several years, for families whose child is originally diagnosed at Penn State Children’s Hospital in Hershey, but require Proton Therapy or other treatment, at least for a period of time, at CHOP in Philadelphia. Ethan was diagnosed with Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma in Hershey and received a craniotomy, tumor resection and multiple rounds of chemotherapy there. When the family had to relocate to Philadelphia for several weeks of proton treatments at CHOP, financial issues began to creep in. Paying an auto loan and utility costs was a way for the Foundation to assist Ethan’s family.
Single moms or dads almost always experience financial difficulty when a child is diagnosed with cancer, especially if there are siblings in the family. When 10-year-old Egypt was diagnosed with high-risk Neuroblastoma, mom had to cut back work hours to care for Egypt and her twelve and five-year old brothers. The Foundation covered the family’s rent for multiple months until mom was able to work more hours each week.
Seven-year-old Nicholas was diagnosed with Medulloblastoma late in 2019 and his mom quit her job to care for him and his older brother. After receiving treatment for his cancer, Nicholas unfortunately relapsed a little more than a year later. When the care for Nicholas became palliative, both parents were unable to work due to the complexity of their son’s care. The Foundation assisted the family during this difficult time with rental and utility payments.
The amount of financial assistance we’ve been able to provide to each family referred to us has increased each year. Last year saw the largest increase, per family, we’ve ever experienced. Because of your generosity, we’ve thankfully been able to keep pace with the needs of the families in our area. With your continued support, the Foundation will be prepared for any new challenges we meet in 2022. We couldn’t do any of what we do without you, and we offer you our heartfelt thanks!
Most sincerely,
The Board and Volunteers of the Jeff Musser Foundation