Nature blogs

Peter describes it like this: “Many of us have done this: You’re not feeling well, and you don’t know why. So, you look up your symptoms on WebMD to see what’s up.” 

Peter was seventeen years old when he typed in his list of issues. He could never have guessed what would happen next.

“Olivia is certainly one of the most easygoing humans I have ever known,” Olivia’s mom, Kimmie, said.

It’s an apt way to describe Olivia: she’s a bright and optimistic girl who’s always ready to smile and cheer others on. She loves soccer, dancing, holidays, and her family. She’s always ready to greet others with a big hug.

Every February, JoyRx, the mission delivery of Children’s Cancer Association, partners with local Joy Maker businesses to celebrate Joy all month long. This year, we partnered with KATU News, iHeart Radio, other local businesses, and members of the community to raise critical funds for our JoyRx Music, Mentorship, and Nature programs.

The past year brought many enhancements to JoyRx Nature’s Alexandra Ellis Caring Cabin to ensure as many families as possible can experience the serene ambiance nature can provide during a trying time. We’re thrilled to highlight these changes — and how they impact families in need of emotional healing.  

When Suzanne Khoshnaw felt the lump in her four-year-old son’s neck, she knew something was very wrong.  

“Mom, it feels like there’s a chainsaw running through my leg.”

When 12-year-old Izzy spoke those words in the fall of 2020, her mom Erika realized that her daughter’s recent discomfort was far more then growing pains. A scan at the doctor’s office revealed a fracture running through the middle of the left side of Izzy’s pelvis, but it also revealed something worse: a fuzzy mass that turned out Ewing’s sarcoma, a type of cancer that forms in the bones and soft tissues of the body.

When Janalyn’s son, Spencer, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma just before his 13th birthday, she saw firsthand how powerful and healing Joy can be. During his first prolonged hospital stay, Spencer shut down. He refused every comfort, interaction, and activity offered—until CCA’s trained MyMusicRx^® musicians, Cameron and Jean, walked through the door.

Seriously ill children, teens, and their families remain isolated in quarantine, cut off from the support of extended family, friends, and the world around them. CCA is committed to continuing service delivery for this vulnerable population, who are deeply impacted by this pandemic. 

CCA is committed to continuing service delivery for seriously ill children and their families and supporting the doctors, nurses, and medical staff who care for them, all who are even more deeply impacted during this pandemic. With social distance strategies in place, our team is innovating the ways we deliver Joy remotely. 

The phoenix is a mythological bird that rises from the ashes, symbolizing the ability to overcome darkness and rise to any challenge. It’s a fitting name for our January Hero, 12-year-old Phoenix, who has risen above his circumstances with incredible strength and courage.

Ana was diagnosed with Desmoid Fibromatosis, a cancer of the connective tissue, in 2017.  Normally an outgoing 16-year-old, Ana found herself suddenly anxious and isolated from her friends. Frequent visits to the hospital disconnected her from relationships and she longed to bond with other teens who could relate to her experiences. That’s when she decided to take advantage of Children’s Cancer Association’s (CCA) NatureRx program.

Historically, teenagers are the most underserved oncology population in children’s hospitals. Maddie knows this all too well, having been 14 when she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Shaun’s silly antics created constant laughter. He loved playing with trains, construction vehicles, LEGOs, and dinosaurs. But above all, he loved firefighters, perhaps because they embody many of the same qualities he was known for: bravery in the face of daunting circumstances, integrity, strength, and infinite love for family and friends.

From the start, Phoenix was a lesson in finding the bright spots amongst seemingly insurmountable challenges. “On July 1st, 2007, after 36 hours of labor and an eventual urgent C-section, Phoenix came into our lives smiling,” shared his mother, Rebecca.

In 2018 you invested more in the community than ever before. With your help, Children’s Cancer Association (CCA) provided world-class programs to children and teens in the hospital and explored the future of joy in healthcare. 2018 was the year we decided transforming a moment isn’t enough – we need to transform the entire experience.

The Alexandra Ellis Caring Cabin™ (Caring Cabin) was built in 2006 with the love and dedication of friends, foundations, and businesses. The 2017 refresh was made possible through the incredible support of our Renovation Team, led by Anna Kimmel of Finley Grace Design, who contributed and inspired over $200K in goods and services to make this dream a reality.

Seventeen-year-old Jacob Daskalakis has a contagious smile and a zest for life that is apparent the moment you meet him. He loves riding his dirt bike, running, cheering on the Portland Trail Blazers, and making others laugh.