Meet Our Valerie Fund Kids
Addison
Current Age: 6
Diagnosis: Sickle Beta Thalassemia Zero
Age Diagnosed: 3 Months Old
With the kindness and compassion from all the staff and the services they provide for Addison, we know our daughter is provided for beyond measure. We are so grateful for everyone at The Valerie Fund for easing the stress on our family during these difficult times, while still managing to put a smile on our daughter’s face.
Camila
Current Age: 10
Diagnosis: Ependymoma (brain tumor)
Age Diagnosed: 16 Months Old
Camila loves the days at the pool at camp and playing with the other campers. The Valerie Fund help us emotionally and financially. The support they give Camila is filled with love and shows her she is not alone. Camila will be in treatment indefinitely. She enjoys singing, dancing, and playing with her Barbie doll. -written by Camila’s Mom
Camryn
Current Age: 8
Diagnosis: Anaplastic Pleomorphic Xanthoastrocytoma (APXA)
Age Diagnosed: 6
The Valerie Fund has helped our family get through long hospital stays, bringing me games to play and supplies to make slime. They gave us gift cards to order food while I was in the hospital and made sure my brothers and sister were ok at home.
Carsyn
Current Age: 9
Diagnosis: Sickle Cell Disease
Age Diagnosed: at Birth
When I was in the hospital, The Valerie Fund staff helped me feel better. The Child Life Specialist brings activities that help me keep my mind off the pain I have.
Carter
Current Age: 21
Diagnosis: Sickle Cell Disease
Age Diagnosed: At Birth
I was diagnosed with Sickle Cell disease at birth, and was fortunate to be placed in the best care from the start at The Valerie Fund Center at CHOP specialty care unit in Voorhees. Thanks to their amazing care and preventative measures, I can proudly say I have never suffered from a sickle cell pain crisis. I am so fortunate that The Valerie Fund was able to connect me to all the people and services that have helped me not only survive, but thrive.
Charlotte
Current Age: 3
Diagnosis: HR B-Cell ALL (Leukemia)
Age Diagnosed: 1
Whenever Charlotte has to go to clinic, she looks forward to the toys and crafts that are always available to her. Child Life Specialist Brie gave Charlotte a doll early in her treatment that she could practice giving meds to. This doll helped tremendously with Char taking her oral chemo meds.
Colton
Current Age: 10
Diagnosis: Pre B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Age Diagnosed: 6
I dressed up in costumes for every visit to The Valerie Fund Center for treatment. The doctors and other kids loved guessing who I would dress up as next! My parents always had support and help from people at the Center. Everyone became like a family to us and we will be forever grateful.
Georgia
Current Age: 3
Diagnosis: Wilms Tumor
Age Diagnosed: 2
The Valerie Fund was instrumental in making treatment as easy as possible. We benefited from the nutritionist, educational support, child life, social work, and beyond. Every time we went to treatment, a load was lifted off me because I knew we were taken care of. They helped me get through the hardest part of my life. Georgia has said that she misses treatment and I know that it is because she misses the people and the care she got. -Georgia's Mom
Jack
Current Age: 10
Diagnosis: T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Age Diagnosed: 8
My favorite times are when Child Life Specialist Miss Brie lets me pick a Lego set to build to pass the time. I also love getting massages during treatment. The Valerie Fund hosts fun events like a trip to the zoo with other cancer families. They also surprised us with a back-to-school gift card. Outside of treatment I enjoy playing soccer and playing video games.
Johnny
Current Age: 16
Diagnosis: T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Age Diagnosed: 14
It was my first time being at camp Happy Times this year and being so welcomed was my favorite. My favorite memory though is spending late nights with my bunkmates. The staff at The Valerie Fund has always been so efficient and friendly. There was always someone I could speak to. Outside of treatment I like to hang out with my friends. I love playing sports like lacrosse and football. I enjoy giving back to my community as well.
Juliana
Current Age: 21
Diagnosis: Ewing’s Sarcoma
Age Diagnosed: 18
I was diagnosed during COVID, right after finished my first semester of my freshman year at college. Starting chemotherapy, alone, on my 19th birthday was devastating. During treatment, everyone from The Valerie Fund Center came to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ and gave me a cupcake. This small gesture lifted my spirit so much, and is a memory I will always treasure from my Valerie Fund experience.
Kaitlyn
Current Age: 11
Diagnosis: Thrombocytopenia
Age Diagnosed: 9
The Child Life specialist makes a very scary and difficult situation much easier on Kaitlyn. We feel very lucky to have amazing and compassionate doctors and staff working with our daughter. It was at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital that Kaitlyn decided that she wants to be a Hematologist! Our family, friends and staff at The Valerie Fund, as well as Dr. Muhlbauer, truly support Kaitlyn as we navigate this rare blood disorder.
Madison
Current Age: 8
Diagnosis: B Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Age Diagnosed: 6
The support from The Valerie Fund was amazing for Madison during such a hard time with COVID. Kaitlyn Murtagh was a wonderful advocate for school, helping advocate for Madison’s IEP. Natalie Nageeb was wonderful in helping Madison achieve braveness and being strong within herself as she tapped into her feelings about Cancer and COVID, all while only being 6 years old. Child Life Specialist Brie was that sunshine of a person who out a smile on Madison’s face with puzzles and crafts to distract her.
River
Current Age: 20
Diagnosis: Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Age Diagnosed: 12
I am a sophomore at Berklee School of Music, thanks to the Weintraub Family Scholarship I was awarded by The Valerie Fund. When I found out I had cancer it changed everything for me. I realized that life could end at any minute and when it did you want to be happy with what you had accomplished. It was that epiphany that inspired me to pursue my passion for music.
Sydney
Current Age: 3
Diagnosis: Wilms Tumor
Age Diagnosed: 20 Months
Sydney was so scared of doctors and nurses at the beginning of treatment. Now she loves going to see her doctors. The love and care of everybody at The Valerie Fund Center changed her perspective. Caitlyn, our social worker, always checked on us. The child life specialist makes sure that Sydney has so much fun at the clinic, making us less anxious for chemo treatment. Sydney receives scans every 3 months. She is currently in P3 in preschool. She loves playing doctor and with her doll house. -Sydney’s mom
