Hopeful Hearts provides free virtual support for parents of pediatric cancer patients
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – When Kirsten Leynes took her 4-year-old daughter Vyla to the pediatric emergency room, she thought she was just sick.
After some tests, she found out Vyla had a form of kidney cancer, called Wilms' tumor. She had to make some quick decisions, but had no one to ask for help.
'She had to be operated on in four days. So they removed her left kidney, and she underwent six months of chemotherapy. And that was it,' Hopeful Hearst Peer Mentor Kirsten Leynes said.
Vyla is now cancer-free, in year three of remission.
'Vyla has certainly had a big fight, and she's doing big things. And I'm proud of the way that she's come so far since her own journey,' Leynes said.
However, Leynes says she wishes she had someone who knew what she and her child were going through during treatment.
'You're making big decisions for your child, such as big medical decisions that will impact them for the rest of their life. So, it can be very hard to shoulder alone,' Leynes added.
When Leynes heard about the Hopeful Hearts program, she was one of the first to sign up as a mentor. She will meet with parents who have kids currently going through cancer treatment.
'Talking to somebody who understands not just what it's like in the moment, but also can speak to what you might be able to anticipate when your child reaches that post-treatment survivor's survivorship stage. It makes a real difference. It offers, you know, hope. It offers information. It offers resources and support that you can only get from somebody who's been there,' Hopeful Hearts Executive Director Beth Blakey said.
The Cancer Hope Network created Hopeful Hearts to fill a support gap for caregivers of pediatric cancer patients.
The program already has 70 mentors.
'We are here to make sure that parents know that they're not alone, that they can access this type of support on their own time. It's free, it is virtual, and you can connect when you need that support most,' Blakey added.
Hopeful Hearts is a nationwide program. For more information on how to get involved, click here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Wear Orange Day: Community advocates stress importance of firearm safety locks
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — The Golisano Children's Hospital is teaming up with a number of community organizations today to raise awareness for gun control and responsible gun ownership. It's all for Wear Orange Day: a national day dedicated to ending gun violence. Since 2020, death by firearm injury has become the number one cause of death for people under age 19 in America — surpassing car crashes for the first time. Golisano Children's Hospital and Strong Memorial treated 44 children for gunshot wounds in 2023. The youngest was one year old. 'We're trying to normalize the conversation a little bit, especially with parents with younger kids to let them know that it's completely okay,' Pediatric Trauma Program Manager Adam Oplinger said. 'If your kid is going to a playdate, it's totally fine to ask the parents of their playmate 'Are their firearms in the house? If so, are they secure?' Kids are very curious and they find all kinds of things, and what we don't want them to find is an unsecured loaded firearm.' At Friday's event, hospital staff and community advocates handed out gun safety locks for free to members of the public. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Tips to take care of your brain for Alzheimer's and Brain Health Awareness Month
June is Alzheimer's and Brain Health Awareness Month and people hoping to spread that awareness said there are things you can do to take charge of your brain health. Brain changes that cause Alzheimer's can begin 20 years or more before symptoms appear. Work to start on Rockdale Road next week Doing things like exercising, eating right, getting good quality sleep, and controlling blood pressure can improve brain health and reduce the risk of cognitive decline. While age and family history are factors, these can naturally help you to reduce your risk. Millcreek man says over $1000 was stolen from EBT account 'It's not just the individual with the diagnosis, but it's the over 480 thousand caregivers here in the state of Pennsylvania that are providing that care. It's the family members that are in that circle of care who need that information and support. We want people to know they're not alone,' said Sara Murphy, vice president of programs and services for the Alzheimer's Association Greater PA Chapter. Early detection of cognitive diseases is crucial. The Alzheimer's Association also has a help line that anyone can call to get support at 1-800-272-3900. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Church & Dwight Co., Inc. Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Zicam® Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs, Zicam® Nasal AllClear Swabs, and Orajel™ Baby Teething Swabs Due to Microbial Contamination
EWING, N.J., June 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Church & Dwight Co., Inc. is voluntarily recalling all lots within expiry of Zicam® Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs, Zicam® Nasal AllClear Swabs, and Orajel™ Baby Teething Swabs to the consumer level. The products are being recalled due to potential microbial contamination identified as fungi in cotton swab components. Swabs found to contain microbial contamination can potentially present a significant risk to the health and safety of consumers including serious and life-threatening blood infections in users whose nasal mucosa may be compromised due to inflammation and mechanical injuries. The risk is highest (potentially severe or life-threatening) among children and individuals with compromised immune systems or other underlying medical conditions. To date, no serious adverse events associated with the affected product have been reported. The recalled products were distributed nationwide in the United States and in Puerto Rico. Recalled Product Information Zicam® Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs, with UPC 732216301205, all lots: A zinc-free, homeopathic cold remedy swab designed to shorten the duration of the common cold. Zicam® Nasal AllClear Swabs, with UPC 732216301656, all lots: A nasal cleansing swab product (discontinued in December 2024). Orajel™ Baby Teething Swabs, with UPC 310310400002, all lots: Pre-moistened swabs designed to soothe teething discomfort in infants and toddlers. What Consumers Should Do Consumers who have purchased any of the recalled products should stop using the product immediately. Please visit or call its Consumer Relations team at (800) 981-4710 for a full refund. Any additional questions can also be directed to its Consumer Relations team Monday through Friday, 9am – 5pm ET. Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of this product may be reported to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online, by regular mail or by fax. Complete and submit the report Online: Regular Mail or Fax: Download form or call 1-800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178. This recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This recall is limited exclusively to Zicam and Orajel swab products. All other Zicam and Orajel products, including Zicam RapidMelts, are not affected by this recall. About Church & Dwight Co., Inc. Church & Dwight Co., Inc. is a leading manufacturer of consumer household and personal care products. For more information, visit Media Contact:Keith View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Church & Dwight Co. Sign in to access your portfolio
