October 20, 2015

102115SanjeevVasudevan175The Macy Easom Cancer Research Foundation has awarded pediatric surgeon Dr. Sanjeev Vasudevan a $75,000 grant for research into a form of pediatric liver cancer called hepatoblastoma, which is a disease that usually affects children under the age of five.

Vasudevan’s research uses new imaging techniques to investigate intra-operative, real-time visualization of a tumor and blood vessels. These imaging techniques will allow surgeons to look at the actual structure of the liver during surgery without relying on previous scans that may not show the immediate condition of the liver. These methods allow surgeons to take as little of the non-cancerous area as possible by fully visualizing the tumor margin in relation to the blood vessels of the liver.

“With this research, we hope to be able to substantially redefine liver surgery to provide better outcomes for our patients,” said Vasudevan, who is also an assistant professor of Surgery and Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine and an attending pediatric surgeon with the Texas Children’s Cancer Center.

This research is a collaborative project with the Texas Children’s departments of radiology and surgery. Dr. Ketankumar Ghaghada, assistant professor in The Singleton Department of Pediatric Radiology, is co-principal investigator on this research study. The project team is made up of multidisciplinary specialists from surgery and radiology.

Vasudevan is driven to discover more effective treatments for pediatric liver cancer. The high rates of relapse, the metastatic nature of the disease and the considerable issues related to chemotherapy treatment in children are of great concern to him.

“I am honored to have our research proposal recognized by The Macy Easom Cancer Research Foundation,” Vasudevan said.” I hope to further our mutual goals of finding a cure and improving treatments for pediatric liver cancer.”

The Macy Easom Cancer Research Foundation was established in memory of Macy Easom, a four-year-old girl who was diagnosed with hepatoblastoma and died of the disease at the age of five. The foundation’s mission is to provide funding to enable research devoted to finding a cure and treatment for hepatoblastoma and other pediatric cancers while promoting public awareness. For every dollar given to the foundation, 98 percent goes directly into research.

October 6, 2015

Return to Connect

Texas Children’s Cancer Center’s Making A Mark art exhibition is showing on The Auxiliary Bridge until Friday, October 9. Sponsored by the Periwinkle Foundation, this exhibit showcases art created by children ages 3 to 22 who have been affected by cancer and blood disorders. This exhibit will travel to six other Texas locations.

A panel of judges selected purple ribbon pieces of art they felt most effectively represented Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

Return to Connect

September 22, 2015

For Aleida Stark, RN, each time a new patient receives their diagnosis at Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers, she begins a new puzzle. The care that is required for patients in the very complex world of hematology and oncology requires a massive amount of coordination. That work is taken on by nurse coordinators who serve as the point of contacts for families, patients and providers. The nurses in this role are constantly moving around the puzzle pieces to ensure everything fits.

“As nurse coordinators, we’re in charge of making sure the families understand their diagnosis,” Stark said. “Our job is to empower the patients and families and educate them to recognize events that need to be reported back to their care providers.”

Stark works closely with Dr. Donald Mahoney, director of Texas Children’s Hematology Center.

“We deal with very complicated problems here and these problems are not simply managed with a brief office visit,” Mahoney said. “It requires extended care support and that’s where the nurse coordinator fits the critical role.”

The role is one that has been present for adult cancer and hematology patients for years, but Texas Children’s is the first to create a role to this extent for the pediatric Hematology and Oncology patient population. Denise Tanner-Brown, clinical director of the Cancer and Hematology Center said the role has recently been reshaped to more closely align with the patients’ and providers’ needs and is growing with seven new positions added in the hematology/oncology and bone marrow transplant outpatient areas with recruitment currently underway.

“Cancer and Hematology care is so complex and our patients touch so many different services in the organization and many times they felt lost in a big and complex system,” Tanner-Brown said. “Our patients needed a central person to help them along the way that’s what they have found in our nurse coordinators.”

The nurse coordinator is with the patient throughout their care at Texas Children’s. From their outpatient clinic visits to any time they are admitted to the hospital or visit the Emergency Center, their nurse coordinator is there to ensure continuum and coordination of care. For the nurses in this role, the relationships are unlike any other area of care.

“There is a different level of satisfaction in this role because you see the entire continuum of care,” Tanner-Brown said. “In this role, you experience the successes, challenges and emotional roller coasters along with the families throughout the months or years they are in our care.”

Tanner-Brown said the right person for this position must be compassionate as they deal with patients in the most vulnerable moments of their lives and must be self-motivated with a great sense of collaboration.

For those interested in applying, contact Debora Harris, assistant director of Bone Marrow Transplant Clinic or Judy Holloway, assistant director of Hematology/Oncology Clinic.

Houston Texans Randy Bullock and Ben Jones, TORO and Houston Texans Cheerleaders visited patients who are battling cancer at Texas Children’s Hospital in honor of National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The visitors donned gold pins and sported gold pompoms, symbolizing childhood cancer awareness, while participating in games and taking photos with patients. View event photos by clicking on the photo above.

September 15, 2015

Every summer, Texas Children’s staff and their patients make the 90-mile trek to Camp for All, a 100-acre, barrier-free recreational facility that enables children with special needs to experience the thrill of camping just like normal kids their age.

“It’s a place where they feel safe and comfortable because everyone is just like them,” said Texas Children’s Neurology Chief Dr. Gary Clark, who is the lead physician at Camp Spike N Wave. “In partnership with the Epilepsy Foundation, we provide the medical infrastructure so children can have a safe camping experience, while doing everything that anybody would do in any other camp.”

Wheelchair bound or not, children engage in a fun-filled week of adrenaline-pumping activities like zip lining, rock wall climbing, swimming, horseback riding, archery, rope courses, basketball, and canoeing in a lake. They build friendships and unleash their independent spirit, while focusing less on their illness or physical disabilities.

Texas Children’s oncologist Dr. ZoAnn Dreyer is the medical director for Camp Periwinkle. She and her staff collaborate with the Periwinkle Foundation to bring more than 185 patients from Texas Children’s Cancer Center to camp each summer.

“Often times, our patients are marked by their cancer,” Dreyer said. “Being in the normal environment can be really tough for them. Here at camp, the playing field is equal for everyone.”

Camps like Camp Periwinkle and Camp Spike N Wave would not be possible without the diligent efforts of Texas Children’s own, Dr. Robert Zeller, chief of the Blue Bird Clinic, who collaborated with other physicians to create Camp for All in 1993.

“I had a patient with epilepsy who couldn’t go to camp because camps wouldn’t accept children with this condition,” Zeller said. “This prompted me to develop a camp for children with medical and physical challenges where they can discover life without barriers. It’s my way of giving back to my patients.”

91615roseparade640Peyton Richardson, a 13-year old currently undergoing treatment for acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) at Texas Children’s Cancer Center, has been chosen to ride on a float at the 127th Rose Parade for Northwestern Mutual, the presenting sponsor for the 2016 Rose Bowl Game in Pasadena, CA. The theme of this year’s parade is Find Your Adventure.

Peyton, who was diagnosed in January, is an aspiring ballerina who dreams of taking a ballet lesson from a principal dancer. Her dream will come to life as part of the float. Northwestern Mutual dedicated their float in this year’s parade to bringing awareness to childhood cancer. Peyton’s story was chosen from submissions from across the country of patients detailing their dreams. Peyton’s video speaks to her passion for dance. Her adventure will be brought to life in roses through Northwestern Mutual’s float design and the Richardson family will have the special opportunity to ride in the Rose Parade.

Northwestern Mutual is committed to raising awareness, accelerating the search for cures to childhood cancer and providing support to families battling the disease.

“We are humbled by Peyton’s passion to fight cancer and desire to share her story with others,” said John Kordsmeier, president of the Northwestern Mutual Foundation. “Peyton’s adventure on display will be very inspiring and will drive more awareness and support for all families affected by childhood cancer.”

September 9, 2015

Each day, as patients come in and out of Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers coping with hospital stays, chemotherapy, hair loss, pain and a multitude of fears, they are often greeted by a smiling face asking them if they want a distraction. A moment to sit still and write what they’re feeling. The smiling face is that of Anita Kruse, or Christian Spear, or one of the other many volunteers of Purple Songs Can Fly. Kruse founded the program at Texas Children’s nearly 10 years ago and has since helped produce nearly 1,000 songs written and sung by patients and their siblings. Each song holds a special meaning to the families whose children have participated. For some, it’s a window into the fears, for others, it’s a chance for hope, for many, it’s a way to express the feelings that are so hard to communicate.

As the national Childhood Cancer Awareness Month reminds those across the country of what these children endure, A Journey to Hope, a musical produced by Purple Songs Can Fly, brings to light what it’s like to be a cancer patient at Texas Children’s. The musical was performed as a thank you for the staff and families of the cancer center.

One in every 285 children in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer. A heartbreaking statistic that is all too real for the staff at Texas Children’s Hospital Cancer and Hematology Centers. Each year, more than 600 of those children are diagnosed here. During Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, the fence around Texas Children’s playground between Abercrombie and West Tower is adorned in gold ribbons, one for each child diagnosed here over the last 365 days.

The month continues with several events for patients, families and staff:

  • Friday, September 11, Be the Match Patient Walk – BMT Unit
  • Saturday, September 12, Be the Match Walk/Run – Sugar Land
  • Saturday, September 12, Making A Mark – The Auxiliary Bridge, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Saturday, September 12, Hope for Histio Family Day – Meyer Building
  • Wednesday, September 16 to Saturday, September 19, City Hall lights up gold for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month – Houston City Hall
  • Saturday, September 19, Sickle Cell Education and Research Day – Meyer Building