How Social Support Helped Our Family in Small and Big Ways

Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation’s Hero Brett Staino

On March 26, 2008 our lives were changed forever. Our 15-month-old son, Brett, was diagnosed with stage III Wilms’ tumor, a form of pediatric cancer. The immediate outpouring of support from the hospital staff, family, friends, our community and even perfect strangers is, to this day, beyond words. I will never be able to thank everyone enough for all they have done to help my family, but their generosity and thoughtfulness will never be forgotten.

While spending three months inpatient at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), I was able to keep in touch, express my feelings and receive verbal support through “carepages,” a website developed for patients of CHOP. Not only did this become our lifeline, but CHOP became our second family. Parents talked to each other on the oncology floor and helped each other through difficult times. Support groups were also run there, offering group counseling on what we were now facing as “cancer parents.” The Ronald McDonald House offered lodging as needed for families. The Child Life Specialists helped try and make inpatient as comfortable as possible for you and your child by bringing toys, movies and games that your child would enjoy. Speech and music therapists were also provided to help my son from any regression.

While inpatient, our community began rallying for us as well. My son began receiving drawings and cards from his friends at daycare and others to help keep his spirits up. A beef and beer benefit was held for my son and about 400 people attended. We began to receive support through the mail, from gas cards to help with our travels to donations for our son’s medical care. One woman even held a birthday party for her two children and in lieu of gifts asked for donations to assist our family. We didn’t even know this woman, but this is a deed that will forever stay in our minds. We received notices from churches all across the country stating that our son’s name was added to their prayer requests. People that knew us or knew our story were having their own children pray for my son at night before bed. Family and friends continued to gather offering us love and support all throughout his treatment. Local organizations sponsored our family to help financially and emotionally during my son’s treatment and thereafter.

It was and still is truly amazing to see how many lives my son has touched and the outpouring of love and support our family continues to receive to this day. Although this is a situation that no one ever wants to encounter, I must say it’s a whole new world, surrounded by many caring and loving people who have touched our lives in such an unbelievable way. For this, all I can say is….thank you!

By: Shannon Staino, Brett's Mother

The Staino Family will host an Alex’s Lemonade Stand Walk-a-thon on Saturday, May 2, 2009 at the Cape May County Park and Zoo. For more information:

http://www.AlexsLemonade.org/node/7489