By Joe Ragusa
BLOOMINGTON – St. Jude Children’s Hospital helps put children and their families at ease after they have been diagnosed with cancer.
Bryan Wolfe told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin that it was surreal when he found out his 8-year-old son Cael had leukemia in July 2014.
“You’re so focused on your child that’s sick and then you remember that you have other kids at home that you’re trying to keep as normal as possible and maintain your job and do a good job at that,” Wolfe said.
Wolfe said St. Jude was there to help.
“They have everything from not only helping the kids, but they have stuff for the parents,” Wolfe said. “Counselors for the parents, support, there’s a lot of people down there that are just cheery. So for every bad, sad story you hear, there’s so many positive things going on down there.”
Leukemia survivor Lindsay Kaiser told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin that St. Jude does its best to help kids stay positive.
“It’s not frightening at all,” Kaiser said. “(The hospital) is full of colors and murals and it’s unlike any hospital I’ve ever been to.”
Kaiser was diagnosed with leukemia when she was 13 months old. She’s now a nurse in her 20s, but she’s still involved with St. Jude through its lifelong study program for research.
You can help fund that research and help St. Jude provide free childhood cancer treatments by becoming a Partner in Hope during the Radio Bloomington St. Jude Radiothon Thursday and Friday. Just call 1-800-374-4995.
Joe Ragusa can be reached at [email protected].
