Cancer Care Annual Reports from the local pediatric hospital show more than 200 new patients are added to their cancer registry annually. Cancer, genetic disorders, transplants, inflammatory disease, radiation and certain drugs weaken children’s immune systems and can place them at short-term risk for infection.
When a child’s immune system is suppressed, he or she cannot attend school, day care or activities in the community without risk of infection. Children can spend formative months and years in isolation at home.
As a priority, RJCH wants to help all children dealing with loneliness and depression that can occur because of their diagnosis and isolation. The children of RJCH can support each other because their journeys are similar.
Parents often must give up a job (sometimes the source of health insurance) to stay home with their child and attend multiple appointments and treatments. RJCH can help parents return to work or take care of other family members knowing their child is being cared for in a safe and supportive environment.