Sofias Hope

SOFIA'S HOPE, INC WAS CREATED BY A MOM OF A CHILD DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER FOR ALL OTHER MOMS FACING THIS FRIGHTENING SCENARIO. THROUGH THIS ORGANIZATION WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO: *PROVIDE A FORUM FOR DISCUSSION AND INFORMATION SHARING *PROVIDE THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES NEEDED TO GET THROUGH DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT & SURVIVORSHIP OR LOSS *HELP FUND PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BEEN PROVEN TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF CHILDREN WITH CANCER (IE, EQUESTRIAN LESSONS, HORSE THERAPY, ART THERAPY, ETC.) *RAISE PEDIATRIC CANCER AWARENESS, AND ESPECIALLY THE FACT THAT IT'S NOT JUST THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT BUT LONG-TERM SURVIVORSHIP *FUND PEDIATRIC CANCER RESEARCH AND ADVANCES IN TREATMENT, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO THEIR LONG-TERM EFFECTS (INCLUDING PREVENTION, DETECTION AND TREATMENT)

TREASURED MOMENTS: PROVIDES CLINICS WITH LOLLIPOPS, TISSUE BOXES AND FUN BAND-AIDS FOR THEIR VITALS AREA. PROVIDES TOYS ALLOWING PATIENTS TO CHOOSE A TOY OF THEIR LIKING AFTER HAVING THEIR PORT ACCESSED OR ANY OTHER IN-OFFICE PROCEDURE. DEVELOPMENT OF END OF TREATMENT AND 5 YEARS OFF TREATMENT CERTIFICATES AND BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS. IT'S FAMILY TRIPS TO FL PANTHER'S GAMES, DANCE CLASSES FOR TEEN PATIENT WHO LOVES BALLET, MAKE-UP SESSION FOR TERMINAL TEEN WHO WANTED TO STUDY COSMETOLOGY BUT DID NOT GET THE CHANCE, INFLATABLE TUB FOR THE MOM WHO WANTS TO GIVE HER TERMINAL TODDLER A REAL BATH IN THE HOSPITAL, AND SO MANY MORE TREASURED MOMENTS. INCLUDES THE ANNUAL HOLIDAY DISTRIBUTION OF TARGET GIFT CARDS AND KINDLE TABLETS/MINI IPADS TO NEWLY DIAGNOSED TEENS AT BAPTIST/MCI, UM/HOLTZ AND NCH, AS WELL AS THE PROVISION OF GROCERY, UBER, AND MEAL GIFT CARDS (SUBWAY, PANERA, HOSPITAL EATERIES) FOR FAMILIES FACING FINANCIAL HARDSHIP. ALSO PROVIDES YOUNG PATIENTS WITH AMERICAN GIRL "TRULY ME" DOLLS DISTRIBUTED BY CHILD LIFE SPECIALISTS AT NCH, MCI AND UM/ALEX'S PLACE. WITH THIS PROGRAM, SOFIA'S HOPE WANTS TO PROVIDE PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES THE ABILITY TO CREATE TREASURED MOMENTS THAT WILL BECOME TREASURED MEMORIES FOR A LIFETIME.

ART PROGRAM: THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED AN ART PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN WHEN THEY WERE IN THE CLINIC OR HOSPITAL. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDED THE KIDS WITH AN HOUR WITH AN ARTIST WHO HELPED THEM MAKE CLAY FIGURES THAT THEY COULD FILM IN A VIDEO. THERE WAS ALSO FOOD PROVIDED. THIS IS JUST ANOTHER WAY THAT THIS ORGANIZATION HOPES TO TAKE THE STRESS OFF OF THE PATIENTS AND FAMILIES FOR A SHORT TIME WHILE THEY ARE RECEIVING TREATMENT.

RESEARCH GRANT: FUND PEDIATRIC CANCER RESEARCH AND ADVANCES IN TREATMENT, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO THEIR LONG-TERM EFFECTS (INCLUDING PREVENTION, DETECTION, AND TREATMENT). $16,000 GRANT GIVEN TO UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK, TO ASSIST IN THE EDITING OF PUBLISHED RESEARCH ARTICLE ON CARDIO PROTECTIVE DRUG TO HELP EUROPEAN PROTOCOL GROUP ACCEPT RESEARCH FINDINGS AND INCLUDE THIS DRUG IN ALL PROTOCOLS WITH ANTHRACYCLINES. $1,000 GRANT GIVEN TO NICKLAUS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION IN SUPPORT OF THE NCH HEMOTOLOGY/ONCOLOGY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.