pediatric cancer Archives

May 15 2018

Welcome Rebecca to our Why Me Staff!

Some of you may have noticed a new (yet somewhat familiar) face working at our fundraising events and around Sherry’s House lately. We would like to welcome Rebecca Kuczarski as the new Director of Fundraising for Sherry’s House! Rebecca is a Why Me mom who was first introduced to the organization over 5 years ago when her youngest daughter, Sophia, was diagnosed with Leukemia. During that time Rebecca and her family participated in many family events and support groups.

Following the loss of Sophia in 2012, Rebecca dedicated herself to bettering the lives of families facing pediatric cancer. She has done this through several fundraising positions – one of which includes the family’s own grass roots non-profit, the Sophia FUNd. “I love running our yearly kickball event. It is a nice way for our friends and family to honor and remember Sophia.” Kuczarski goes on to explain that the event continues to grow each year and while they are proud to contribute to Why Me, with a portion of the proceeds from this event, she always wanted to do more. “Our event is once a year. We have fun and raise a lot of money, but in my new position at Why Me I get to work more closely with families and donors. I am excited to be a part of helping Why Me grow their support for families.”

Rebecca has quickly become a valued member of the team; diving right in at the busiest time of our fundraising season. “It is exciting to see each event from behind the scenes, start to finish. It takes a lot of coordination to host successful events. It feels good to be a part of a team where everyone is so dedicated to the success of each event.” In addition to seeing the events Kuczarski says it is inspiring to be in a space where she can see exactly where the money is going. With increases in this year’s funding Why Me has been able to offer new Family Fun events for all Why Me families as well as increase support to those living at Sherry’s House.

Why Me & Sherry’s House is an organization conceived, founded and run in part by families that have lived childhood cancer personally. This unique personal perspective has always provided clarity of our mission and an understanding of what families need. Parents who have lived this experience are passionate and focused and are one of the driving forces behind our success. Rebecca, as a Why Me parent, understands what we do and why it is so important.

Welcome Rebecca!

Read Rebecca’s bio here.

Oct 25 2017

Finding Family

We only had 3 Halloween’s with Kai. The first he was a newborn, just about 2 months old. He wore an orange and black striped onesie and a tiny pumpkin hat that barely fit. It was a fairly quiet night, our first holiday as a new family. The second he wore a homemade turtle costume and we attended our first Why Me Halloween party in 2011.

Kai had just turned one and was diagnosed with a brain tumor; the realities of pediatric cancer were still so fresh and ever changing in our life. Four months into treatment we had had one brain surgery, weekly chemotherapy sessions, weeks of hospital stays, and countless therapies. I tried to maintain our life before cancer as best as I could but I knew nothing would ever be the same. I was forcing myself to continue our typical mom and baby groups but Kai was quickly falling behind. After leaving my job to take care of him our world became even smaller.

As we pulled into the parking lot to the Why Me’s annual Halloween Party I remember scanning the crowds of families pouring out of mini vans, trying to determine which kid in the family was in treatment. I searched for another kid like Kai – still a baby. With elaborate costumes, face paint and wigs it was hard to tell who had cancer and who didn’t. As I watched nervously from the car, waiting for Kai to wake, one thing became obvious, everyone was smiling and could not wait to get to the party.

We entered the room that first year as “the new people”. It was intimidating to show up not knowing anyone but attending that Halloween party changed everything for me. For the first time I felt less alone. I talked to other families who had been at this much longer than us. I saw kids laughing and running and playing, despite cancer. Watching a room full of cancer families having fun gave me hope. I imagined that next year Kai too would laugh and run and play despite cancer. Until that point I had been living day to day most of Kai’s life, first trying to figure out what was wrong and then, after diagnosis, just trying to survive. That day at the Halloween party I felt for the first time that there was more to this cancer life than doctors appointments and therapies. At Why Me we found a community, a family.

The following year we attended the Halloween party without hesitation, this time as Harry Potter. So much had changed by then. Kai was not laughing or running. He had “failed’ off of three chemotherapy protocols that year and was now on hospice. The noise and excitement was too much for Kai that day and we didn’t stay long, yet I still remember feeling thankful for our short visit. There we felt supported and surrounded by people who understood.

Looking back it is hard to believe there was ever a time before Why Me. I cherish the memories we have from the Halloween parties and family dinners and groups we ended up attending. The friendships we made within those walls are like no other and I truly do not know where I would be without them.

This time of year, with the air turning crisp and the nights growing longer, always brings mix of emotion for me. Some of my fondest memories with Kai are in the early fall but so too are some of my hardest days. Next month it will be five years since Kai’s death. Five years since our last Halloween. I still find myself pulled to Why Me in these times of transition. There is still some comfort in knowing that each October, as the days begin to darken, I can always count on a parking lot full of smiling families eager to get to the party, making new memories and enjoying another Halloween.

-Written by Kerri Padgett, Kai’s Mom

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