This month, the Roosevelt Park campus of Ross Medical Education Center has been actively engaged in participating in Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. They have had many exciting activities and guest speakers planned this month to help raise awareness to childhood cancer. On Thursday, September 17th the campus welcomed Colleen Thompson from Pediatric Oncology Resource Team, an organization from Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, as a guest speaker. The Pediatric Oncology Resource Team (P.O.R.T) is a group of volunteer families serving families with children battling cancer and other life-threatening blood disorders. The organization is unique as it is made up of families helping families.
The Pediatric Oncology Resource Team works in conjunction with the pediatric hematology/oncology and bone marrow transplantation teams at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. They work hard to offer accessible sources of information regarding cancer and blood disorders diagnoses, treatments, coping skills, and parenting methods. Amanda Holman, Roosevelt Park’s Career Services Student Service Representative, knows exactly what the P.O.R.T means to families that are going through the journey of having a child with cancer.
Amanda experienced firsthand what it was like to be supported by the P.O.R.T. when her young son, Joshua, was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor called Medulloblastoma in 2004. “From April of 2004 until February of 2005, we were in and out of DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids for treatment,” shared Amanda about her experience. “P.O.R.T. made our journey down that road a little bit easier.” Amanda and her family were the recipients of P.O.R.T. Care Bags and appreciated the food that they kept stocked in the family lounges. They even provided her family with gas cards to get back and forth to the hospital for 2:00 a.m. emergency room visits when Joshua developed an infection and needed IV antibiotics. She was given forgotten toiletries for unexpected hospital stays. She also was invited and attended the picnics and Christmas parties that they put on for not only the kids currently receiving treatment, but also those who are in remission. “I can’t say enough good things about P.O.R.T. and what they do. I’m one of the lucky ones. Joshua has been in remission since 2005. and this past March, we were given the good news that he is now considered cured.” The day concluded with presenting Colleen with a Ross Candy Jar and Yellow Roses (the color for Childhood Cancer Awareness) in appreciation for not just coming to the campus but for all she does in support of these children and the community.
If you are interested in learning more about the Pediatric Oncology Resource Team and how you can help, visit the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Facebook page or their website at http://www.helendevoschildrens.org/port.