Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer

Lia Gore

Project Overview

I had the privilege of caring for a young cancer patient who first came to us when she was 3 ½ years old. Her doctors felt there was nothing more they could offer her for her T-cell leukemia as she had already received the most aggressive, state-of-the-art care and still her leukemia had come back. Her family became aware of a new drug that we had in a phase I trial, but the study had primarily enrolled adults. 

After reviewing her records, we decided that it would be worth a try. They flew to Denver and started treatment.  Two weeks later, she was in complete remission.  That was more than three years ago.  After a year of treatment and no evidence of disease, we nervously decided that she could discontinue treatment.  She has been off all therapy for more than two years, and recently completed kindergarten. We all feel that they are part of our families now.

If this study weren’t available, I firmly believe that this little girl would not be alive today.  Due to the support from Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, our program was able to mobilize the necessary resources to treat her quickly, and to help her family live here during her treatment.  In this regard, ALSF is part of her cure too; the ripple effect of what you have done has given a family their little girl back.