Information for Bill Roberts Parents and School Community about Allison returning to school

Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders
1056 E. 19th Avenue, Denver, CO 80218





Date: August 17, 2007
Regarding: Allison Winn
To: Dianna Litvak
AGE: 7 year old

To Whom it May Concern:

Allison Winn is a patient of ours treated in the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders. Allison was diagnosed with a brain tumor and is handling treatment well. As she returns to the 2007 academic school year, there are a few things for school officials and peers to keep in mind.

Cancer is a disease that people of all different ages and races can get. Cancer happens when the body cannot control the growth of some of the cells in your body. These cells grow faster and in different shapes than they are supposed to. Cancer is not something that you or anyone caused you to have, cancer just happens sometimes.

Developmentally, children Allison's age often believe that the patient did something "wrong" or "bad", which has then caused the patient to become ill. We as adults know that this is not the case and often need to reassure children. We don't know why some children get cancer and others don't. Perhaps some day one of your students will be doctor that figures this out!

Children sometimes believe that cancer is contagious, like the flu. This is not so. A person cannot "catch" cancer from another person. However, a person with cancer can catch colds easier than most other kids! It is important to help keep Allison safe from germs by washing hands after the restroom and before eating. It is also important for everyone to cover their mouth and nose when they cough or sneeze, and follow that up with a good hand washing too! If students have a fever or cold symptoms, staying home from school that day would not only protect Allison, but it will aid in the ill student's recovery too!

Children this age also have quite the imagination and may believe that cancer has changed the child. That the child with cancer has become someone else. Please remind the students that Allison is the same person they knew the previous year. The same girl that loves to eat ice cream and play with her sister!

Allison may look different on the outside, but she is the same, intelligent and playful girl on the inside! If students have questions about her appearance, or why she may not be in school, Allison is the best expert they can ask!

It is important to remember that childhood cancer is different than adult cancer. Children heal faster and are often more resilient! If students, parents or staff have further questions, staff at The Children's Hospital are available to come to your school for en educational presentation. Please contact Wanda Simms, RN, Molly Hemenway, PNP, or Allison Donohue, CTRS/CCLS at 303-764-8357.

Thank you for your time!


Allison B. Donohue, MS, CTRS/CCLS
Therapeutic Recreation/Child Life Specialist
303-864-5617

First Day of School

Allison and Emily are so excited about starting school tomorrow. We've been so consumed with Allison that we have just now started to prepare ourselves for Emily starting kindergarten and officially becoming a big kid. Unfortunately that is the way it has been all summer, but Emily is still plugging away and the girls are working on becoming pals again. We have more than a little anxiety about tomorrow and the schoolyear, but all we can do is try and figure it out as we go along. Allison will go half days for now and have a tutor to catch up on the stuff she is missing in the afternoons. We have solved some of the juggling of our schedules by hiring a new full time nanny who starts next week. We have to plunge in without any other way to do it. Everyone is bending over backwards to help us, and that is a saving grace. But before we know what will work we just have to get through these first few days and see what we can handle. The next big chemo treatment is Aug. 30. Check back for photos of the big first day of school.

Things I know

Early morning thoughts that have been swirling around in my head:

• I was telling someone I don't know very well about my stint as a mother so far. When I was younger, and even when Brian and I were married for a couple of years, I didn't consider myself an ideal person to become a mother. Both times I got pregnant, I was surprised, and found I had to rearrange everything--my life, work, and relationships--to allow these people to come into our lives. I've always been a little curious and even envious by people who knew they wanted to be parents and planned their lives to make a family. But this person said, when I told him about what was happening, that I was meant to be a mother. It got me to thinking about whether we choose children or they choose us. Emily has said this to me many times: "Mommy, you were the mommy I was looking for." When I look into her honest and open blue eyes as she says it, I know it is true. I can just picture baby spirits shopping for mothers in Mothers-r-Us and finding the one that suited them best.
• I think my faith in G-d is much stronger now, but not because I believe that He has chosen this fate for my family to have to endure Allison's sickness and the possible loss of my beautiful child. The way I see it, G-d doesn't want humans to suffer, and would never wish to see a child, or anyone, go through pain, loss, or other tragedy. But His presence makes me stronger and I feel better knowing that perhaps He has looked into my soul and wants me to keep going.
• I believe in positive thinking, but not because it can change outcomes. It keeps you going when things are really terrible. We constantly try to see the best side of things, because it is in our nature. It is our coping and defense against the things the world throws at us.
• I believe in community. We all have an important place in the world, and our connections to one another make life worthwhile. Communities keep individuals afloat, and use the strength of a group to help those in need. I know that I couldn't be who I am today without my connections and relationships and I am very thankful to be surrounded by so many people who can help us. I hope to repay the favor someday.
• I also believe in the power of a wish, which is why I think the Make a Wish Foundation is a remarkable thing. As a family, we have the ability to give our children so many things, but some families are unable to do this. This foundation makes it possible for any kid with a life-threatening illness to get their wish granted, right out of the fairy tales if they desire. This alone keeps them going, just to know that magic really can happen, and you can get what you want even while you have to go through a hell that no one should ever have to experience.

OK, that's all for now. Just wanted to get those thoughts out into the world and see what comes back.

Dianna