Brittany and Brandon Smith will talk about their son Gunner who was totally healthy until he was diagnosed with a High Grade Multi Form Glioma in August of 2017, and passed away when he was 14 years old, on May 28th of 2021.

Just a few days after complaining of a headache and vomiting on his way to school the next day in August of 2017, Gunner Smith, who was a 4th grade student was having emergency brain surgery at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, after being diagnosed with a High Grade Multi Form Glioma. This operation was so serious that there was a question as to whether Gunner would even be able to wake up from this surgery. Gunner's parents Brittany and Brandon will talk about their son who showed so much bravery while he fought his disease and uttered these words after his diagnosis. "We Got This." Gunner passed away from this Pediatric Brain Cancer on May 28th of 2021.

Being put in a garbage can by a fellow classmate while in Junior High School, and having a teacher laugh at her as she was being forced to clean up the spill of a lunchroom tray which she did not cause, are just a few of the things that Mariah Forster Olson talks about in her recently published book HOPE OVER DESPAIR which details her life of the physical and mental after effects of her Neuroblastoma battle that she has lived with since her diagnosis of this form of Pediatric Cancer when she was a year old in June of 1980. Now at the age of 46, Mariah has proven without a doubt that it is possible to live a meaningful and successful life, despite being forced to endure the many unfortunate details that she describes so eloquently in her book.

Kerri Steele's husband Will ran 13 miles each day, went home to help get his young children ready for the day afterwards, and then put in a full day of work. Needless to say, it was a total shock to Kerri and Will when he was diagnosed with a rare form of  cancer that was determined to be terminal upon his diagnosis in February of 2010, and which led to his passing on Christmas Eve of 2012. Kerri will talk about Will, and about the difficult years ahead for her and their children who were 2,4, and 6 when their father got sick. 

Jannell and Keith Royer's daughter McKenna was experiencing headaches before her Diffuse Midline Glioma diagnosis in August of 2023. This Pediatric Brain Cancer behaves in a similar manner to DIPG, leaving little room for a lifespan which is normally expected to be 9-12 months.  McKenna did not even make it that far, passing away on February 26th of 2024, 6 months after being diagnosed. Jannell and Keith will talk about how McKenna felt surprisingly well during almost all of her battle, until 8 days before her passing when she suddenly went downhill health wise. Jannell and Keith will also about their Brave Like McKenna Foundation and their advocacy work for the cause of Pediatric Cancer.

BobbiJo  Pansier met Andy Standish , the founder of the Standish Foundation For Children, at an event and just a few weeks later Bobbi Jo joined this World Wide Foundation and is now its Global Programs Manager. This Foundation works with low income and middle income countries to help children who are suffering from diseases such as Pediatric Cancer and other maladies with many aspects of healthcare. This foundation is 15 years old and is alive in 70 countries around the world, and has served 1 million children. Bobbi Jo is a Child Life Specialist and uses her background in psychosocial issues to help these kids and their families navigate what can be a very difficult path in the Healthcare world. 

Sam Taylor's daughter Ellie has been free from her treatment for Rhadomyosarcoma since April of 2023. 6 months after that, Sam started her DEEP C PODCAST which focuses on parents and how they are able to deal with their the children's Pediatric Cancer battles. This podcast is so well known that Sam hears each day from at least one parent who has listened to her podcast or knows about it, and Sam develops great relationships with all of her guests. Sam also spends a great deal of time on her Advocacy work for the cause of Pediatric Cancer, including her work with the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario known as POGO.If you would like to find clips of interviews that Sam has had with her guests then please go to her DEEP C PODCAST Instagram page. Interested parents would be able to see Sam and her guests interact and that is always a good thing. 

Ansley Cochran's parents found a lump on their 2 year old daughter's neck in 1999, and this lump was the forerunner of her diagnosis of Neuroblastoma. Ansley was able to live for 19 more years , a time period that included very difficult treatment which was interrupted by a 4 1/2 year period of remission. Ansley's health began to decline in February of 2017 and her passing took place on May 22nd of 2018 when Ansley was 21 years old. Ansley's mom Donna will talk about both Ansley and the Ansley Foundation on today's podcast. 

Dr. Danielle Cameron knew that she was interested in medicine when she was a girl growing into her teenage and adolescent years while watching her father who had a career as a Cardiac Surgeon. Danielle talks about that on today's podcast as well as her many interests in the field of Pediatric Oncology, especially when it concerns solid tumors. Danielle also lends her voice as a member of a number of National committees for Organizations that are concerned with a wide variety of Pediatric Cancer issues. 

From her early years , HELPING was a word that described what Dr. Kate Lund enjoyed doing for others, and this led to her career as a Clinical Psychologist and her roles in the Pediatric Cancer World. One of these roles was as a volunteer for the Children's Brain Tumor Foundation which took place for nearly 25 years and her most recent and current role has been training her dog Wally to become a Therapy Dog who visits Pediatric Cancer patients and brings them comfort at Seattle Children's Hospital. 

After surviving her childhood fight with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Claire Galvin has gone on to have an outstanding academic career, which has included holding a double major in Biology and Psychology which led to her receiving an Honors Bachelor Degree from the University of Toronto, a Master of Science Degree in Experimental Medicine from the University of British Columbia, and is now pursuing her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Concordia University in Montreal. Clair is currently working on her Dissertation which involves the study of Pediatric Cancer survivors and how they have transitioned into adulthood. Claire's dissertation is called the CHILDHOOD CANCER IDENTITY PROJECT. If you are interested in participating in this project then please email Claire at [email protected]