How a Cancer Diagnosis Impacts Young Families and What They Can Do to Get Help

Did you know that cancer is the second leading cause of death among children?

I think many of us know of someone who is battling cancer or who has survived cancer. Some of us, like myself, have even lost family members to this terrible disease. I remember visiting an uncle who had been battling cancer for a long time and distinctly recall feeling shocked at his transformation. The once energetic, talkative man was no more and in his place was this terribly gaunt figure covered in hospital tubes.

It was a scary experience. That was the first time I saw what cancer can do to a person.

Over the next few years, I lost two young relatives to blood cancer. They too underwent long-term treatment and considering all the progress made in the field of cancer research, I had hoped and prayed that they would be cured.

Unfortunately, that did not happen. I was heartbroken when I received the devastating news.

4-year-old Yan Yan lost his battle with cancer in April of this year. Though this little boy and his parents, Paul and Abby, fought valiantly to save his life, in the end, the terrible disease ravaging his body refused to release its hold.

Initially thought to be a heat rash, little Ayden was later diagnosed with leukemia when a vigilant doctor ordered further blood tests to be performed. At that time, Ayden’s parents, Ethan and Iliana, had just arrived in Costa Rica for a preplanned vacation when Ethan’s mother called them with the awful news. The distraught parents got on the first available flight back to the US just in time for their son’s first procedure which involved a lumbar puncture and having a PICC ( peripherally inserted central catheter) line inserted.

Following the procedure, Ethan and Iliana were able to hold, hug and kiss their son. Ayden then got to sit on his mother’s lap while being wheeled to his hospital room.

Iliana has been faithfully documenting Ayden’s journey on her Facebook page.

“My son was in one hospital, City of Hope, and my husband was being treated at UCLA. Schedules did not always match up. Add to that the dietary restrictions of my son who is a Celiac and during treatment could not eat fresh fruits or vegetables, it is not a pretty picture for anyone attempting to help.”

Katie Quintas founded Here to Serve, a nonprofit organization based in California, from her experience dealing with the cancer diagnoses of both her husband and son: “I conceived of Here to Serve to organize and bring together, not only the community of volunteers who wish to help but also the many support services that often go untapped because you either are not aware of them or do not have the energy to seek them out.”

I invite you to share this post with families who are struggling with cancer so they can get support in their journey from Here to Serve.

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