In 2017, the O’Connell’s 3-year-old daughter Jane was diagnosed with stage IV Wilms, a pediatric kidney cancer. The cancer had spread to both of her lungs, lymph nodes and a vertebra in her spine. The months of chemotherapy, radiation and surgeries that changed their lives forever are still vivid memories.
“Radiation and chemotherapy was our only hope to save Jane’s life, but it is so damaging to young, developing bodies. She will suffer the effects of treatment for the rest of her life,” O’Connell said.
Then she learned that Seattle Children’s was pioneering a better way.
“Immunotherapy programs a child’s immune system to fight cancer cells, offering a treatment without chemotherapy or radiation—or their life-limiting side effects,” O’Connell explains.
Inspired by this immunotherapy research, O’Connell founded a guild at Seattle Children’s called ImmunoMomentum!
“These visionary researchers and doctors offer hope for the discovery of more potential cures for all types of childhood cancer. That’s why we have to say…ImmunoMomentum!” O’Connell said. “One of the most shocking things we learned on this journey is that there is very little funding for pediatric cancer research, despite it being the number one disease killing our children. But thanks to our generous
source - https://pulse.seattlechildrens.org/a-mothers-ambitious-goal-to-raise-1-million-for-cancer-research/
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