FLOW Foundation fêtes cancer survivors
Sesame Street’s Elmo at play with children at the Bustamante Hospital for Children.
LAST FRIDAY, the FLOW Foundation collaborated with parents of childhood cancer survivors and representatives from the Bustamante Hospital for Children to fête more than 30 young patients who are at different stages of their battle with childhood cancer. In observance of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month— September — the Foundation made efforts to recognise and bring awareness to the plight faced by families stricken by the often life-changing diagnosis.
The group consisted of children who were either recovered or are currently undergoing treatment, whose age start as young as nine months old.
Senior Medical Officer at the Bustamante Hospital for Children, Dr Michelle-Ann Richards-Dawson, applauded the foundation for their assistance noting that the company is one of few which offer dedicated support for paediatric/childhood cancer.
DELIGHTED
“We are delighted for the assistance from the FLOW Foundation. You can feel the love and the care from the FLOW family,” she said. Richards-Dawson, in advising parents who may suspect unusual illness in their children, urged them to pursue the matter, noting that early detection is always best as it allows the patients to be treated as early as possible and facilitates a better outcome.
In 2015, the FLOW Foundation Paediatric Cancer Fund for children being treated at the hospital was launched. The fund provides assistance for incidental items and private laboratory and radiological testing for families not able to afford them.The fund also assists with transportation and accommodation for families who often have to travel long distances to seek treatment.
Continuing its observance of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, the FLOW Foundation will participate in an expo being hosted by the hospital on Friday, September 30 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on its grounds. The public is invited to attend.