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3550 Barron Way #9a • Reno, Nevada 89511
We could not have imagined a better way to kick off the fall season than trick or treating, dancing to a DJ, pumpkin decorating, and games at our annual Fall Festival for NNCCF families. More than 150 children with cancer, siblings, parents, and volunteers joined the NNCCF staff last Friday for a memorable afternoon.
We saw many creative costumes and enjoyed the enthusiasm of the families, staff and volunteers. This year, some notable characters made their way to the festival including Lego Man, Jesse from Toy Story, Cinderella and many more!
Here are a few Fall Festival testimonials from our families:
“It was sure great to see you and everyone at the Fall Festival. All the costumes and decorations were spectacular!” – Dad
“It doesn’t look like Natalie will be up for trick or treating, but now she won’t feel like she missed out because the fall festival was PERFECT!!!! Thank you again to everyone for such a great event. Natalie loves holidays!” – Dad
“Thanks also for the Fall Festival! Elizabeth still tells everyone about how she got to meet the real Cinderella :)” – Mom
“Thank you for inviting us to the greatest party ever.” – Big brother
Special thank you to Woodburn & Wedge for their commitment to helping others and sponsoring this event. Thank you to the team at Sierra Auto Sales for donating pumpkins for our pumpkin patch. We are grateful for the additional support provided by Espinoza’s Food Truck, Reno 1868 FC, Reno Aces, Mary Ann’s amazing face painting, DJ Ronnie, board members and volunteers. Your efforts made this event possible.
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Kyra’s smile lights up the whole room! This spunky seven-year-old wants to be a rock star when she grows up. Her favorite thing to do is sing and dance, especially when her four siblings join in on the fun. Kyra was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in March 2016. She is very resilient, and her body has responded well to cancer treatments. She faced adversity this last year because of being immune compromised. She was unable to attend school, but mom homeschooled her to keep her up to date. Kyra is hopeful to start school in the fall, despite her recent two week stay in the hospital from a virus. Although her diagnosis usually requires three years of treatment, Kyra is itching to be healthy and cancer free!
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Kahuena is quite a little gentleman, with good manners and a polite disposition. Kahuena is a Hawaiian native, but his family moved to Reno to pursue more treatment options after he relapsed with rhabdomyosarcoma after only 6 months of being in remission. Kahuena has traveled often to the Bay Area for treatments. The constant treks over the hill can be taxing on kiddos, but he is one strong kid. Recently, Kahuena and his family traveled to Minnesota for a specialized surgery that he required. After his return, his family was happy to share that he is recovering and doing really well. When he grows up he wants to be a firefighter. This seven-year-old has shown immense bravery throughout his treatments, and we know he would make a perfect fireman.
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By: Lindsey Gross
If you’re looking for a local charity to give to during the holidays, consider the Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation! We are a nonprofit located in Reno, Nevada, helping northern Nevada children diagnosed with cancer.
[button text=”Give now” link=”https://www.nvchildrenscancer.org/donate/general-donation/”]
Here are some examples of what your gift could provide:
– Masks for children with compromised immune systems
– Medical bills not covered by insurance
– Travel costs to and from treatment
– Copay for an emergency room visit
– Care package for a newly diagnosed family
After Black Friday and Cyber Monday, it’s Giving Tuesday. Many people consider it the kick-off to holiday and end-of-year giving. This inaugural event started in 2012 and grew into a movement that celebrates giving and philanthropy. Many local nonprofits will be participating this year, and we encourage you to be a part of the movement and promote the spirit of generosity.
Your donation will go a long way in providing emotional and financial support for a family with a child diagnosed with cancer. NNCCF assists families with costs like medical expenses, insurance deductibles, uncovered procedures, travel costs and additional expenses the family might need assistance with during a child’s treatment.
Our goals are to alleviate the financial burden and emotional strain that comes with a child cancer diagnosis, and to expand public awareness of childhood cancer. We promote research to find a cure for cancer, so our children can grow up healthy and cancer free. Our foundation further assists families throughout their child’s treatment by connecting them with other local, regional and national resources.
Join us in making a difference in the lives of these children. We have many different giving options and have convenient online donation options. Let’s help them achieve their dreams and grow up cancer free.
*Pictured: Scarlett, four-years-old, diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Children diagnosed with cancer show us in many ways that they are strong. They emanate innocence and hope that motivates families, caretakers, doctors, teachers, and social workers alike. NNCCF has been touched by Emma and her family since the day they walked through our door. Every child’s journey with cancer is unique, and we are inspired by her spirit and tenacity.
We are grateful for the support of people in our community, and we hope that Emma’s story published in the Reno Gazette Journal will inspire many of you to support our foundation. Every day we help children like Emma and their families with financial and emotional support. At NNCCF we share the phrase “the child’s diagnosis is a family diagnosis,” meaning that childhood cancer affects the entire family in some way. No journey through childhood cancer is the same, and NNCCF strives to support each family with individualized care.
Thank you again, Emma and her family, for sharing your story.
By: Jim Krajewski, jkrajewski@rgj.com Published 3:52 p.m. PT Feb. 9, 2018 | Updated 5:13 p.m. PT Feb. 9, 2018
Emma Johnson, a sophomore on the Reed girls varsity basketball team, has a tumor on her brain and spine. (Photo: Provided by Lindsey Johnson) via the Reno Gazette Journal
Chad Johnson does not a cry often, if ever.
But when he found out his daughter, Emma Johnson, was facing a severe, life-changing diagnosis, Chad admits he broke down outside the doctor’s office.
Emma Johnson, a sophomore on the Reed girls varsity basketball team, has a tumor on her brain and spine. She had surgery a year ago and undergoes a brutal 8-hour chemotherapy treatment every month, treatments that will continue for the next six months.
“I haven’t cried in 44 years,” Chad Johnson said last week. “The doctor told us what was going on, and he told us about the surgery. I was holding it in pretty well except for one meeting when he told us what could happen. It’s overwhelming.”
“He’s cried more in the past year,” his wife and Emma’s mom, Lindsey Johnson said.
Emma Johnson found out she had a tumor on her brain and her spine in December of 2016. She was going for her physical exam, which is required to be on the basketball team, and knew she could not see well out of one eye. But she did not know why.
In the vision test portion of the physical, she told the doctors and her parents she could not see out of her right eye. An MRI in early December 2016 revealed a tumor on her brain. She had a 13.5-hour brain surgery two weeks later, on Dec. 16, 2016.
The tumor is wrapped around her optic nerve and travels down her spine. During the surgery, doctors collected a small piece of the tumor on her brain. The surgery was done to identify markers in the tumor, which can then direct the chemotherapy to attack just the tumor and not the surrounding tissue.
In January 2017, she had a chemo port put under the skin on her chest. That port makes it easier for the doctors to administer the chemotherapy. Each treatment of chemotherapy knocks Emma out of school and life for several days. She misses an entire week of school each month. She makes up the course work at home and online.
“It’s rough,” Emma said. “I’m usually out for a week after chemo, sick, throwing up, all that fun stuff. But I try to come back after a week and play (basketball).”
She returned to the Raiders basketball team last season seven weeks after having brain surgery. Emma has an MRI performed every 3-4 months to see if the chemo is working. Her most recent MRI revealed her brain tumor has decreased since surgery, but her spine tumor is the same size it was on her November scan. The good news is there has been no growth.
The new game plan is for Emma to receive six more chemo treatments, which will take her through August. After that, doctors will scan her again and stop the chemo for two to three months while scanning her at the same time. If she has no new growth, the doctors will make the decision if she is done with chemo at that time.
Emma Johnson, a sophomore on the Reed girls varsity basketball team, has a tumor on her brain and spine. (Photo: Provided by Lindsey Johnson) via the Reno Gazette Journal
Emma does not have any diet restrictions, but she eats less sugar because of the tumors. Emma also played on the Reed varsity golf team last fall and takes all honor classes, maintaining straight As. She tries to not let the tumor and chemo treatments affect her mental state.
“People know, but she really doesn’t let it get to her,” Lindsey said. “She’s never skipped a beat. She doesn’t bitch and moan about chemo. She doesn’t complain about going to the doctor.”
Chad said Emma tries to be like most other kids and participating in sports helps her accomplish that. “Everything is a point of trying to have a normal life,” he said.
Chad said Emma is a good example for other parents and children going through similar situations. He said dealing with a life-changing medical diagnosis can help put sports in perspective. Wins and losses don’t seem as important. “You take a look at that, and you see, Reed just lost to Reno for the umpteenth time, but you know what, how can you possibly look at that and say how bad it is,” he said. “It’s just another challenge.”
Emma isn’t one of the Raiders star players. She doesn’t see a lot of minutes and averages fewer than a point per game. But, the fact she still plays varsity sports amazes her coaches and teammates.
“She is one tough kid,” Reed coach Sarah Schopper-Ramirez said.
Chad said when Emma goes through chemotherapy, the whole family goes and has treatment.
Emma and Taylor Johnson (Photo: Provided by Lindsey Johnson) via the Reno Gazette Journal
“All four of us go and sit there and have treatment together,” he said. “Only one kid is getting it, but we all go through it.”
Chad and Lindsey said the Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation has been a great help, especially in providing a calm, reassuring support system. They said Emma’s ordeal has helped them meet several people going through similar, trying circumstances. They said helping others cope with cancer is therapeutic.
“You take a look at it and say, “What are we going to do with this?’” Chad said. “We’re going to get through this, but then what are we going to do? I’m sure Lindsey and I will be a part of the Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation going forward, and that’s what you have to do.”
Last year, the NNCCF helped 140 families with costs such as household living expenses, mortgage payments, rent, food, utilities, travel expenses related to treatment, medical expenses, insurance deductibles, uncovered procedures and additional expenses the family might need assistance with during a child’s treatment.
The NNCCF focuses on children less than 21 years old and those who are in treatment or are in follow-up care for cancer. Their main objective is to enhance the quality of life for children with cancer. They also advocate for increased research funds and raising public awareness.
“When people ask what keeps us going, it is the wonderful people that we’ve met,” Lindsey said.
To view the story on RGJ click here.
