Before I heard the words “Josie has cancer,” childhood cancer was such a distant thing to me. I thought it was so rare that I didn’t give it much thought. Then, on February 18, my life changed forever when my daughter Josie was diagnosed with juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML).

I now understand why childhood cancer awareness is critical. These sweet kids get such a disproportionately small portion of funding, and without awareness that funding cannot increase, leaving too many children relying on treatments originally made for adults.

Cancer isn’t just a diagnosis; it’s a whole new life. It is hospital stays, chemotherapy, blood counts, procedures, and being separated from family. It’s uncertainty, what-ifs, and normal childhood experiences missed. 

Cancer changed the way I see the world and made me realize how much we take ordinary childhood for granted. A trip to the park, a birthday, a family meal, or simply watching your child laugh can feel completely different when you know how quickly life can change. I learned to celebrate the little victories, the good blood counts, the days at home, the smiles, and every moment that felt normal. I also learned that behind every childhood cancer statistic is a child with a name, a family who loves them, and a future they deserve to have.

These kids have resilience that is unmatched.

Awareness isn’t about making people sad about childhood cancer; it’s about making people understand that research matters because children deserve treatments developed specifically for them. Josie was so blessed to be a part of a clinical trial funded by Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation that allowed us to personalize her care based on her specific risk categories. We are so blessed that our girl won her fight, but for so many others, that’s not the case.

The first step in getting more funding is awareness. Although we got our happy ending, I will never stop advocating and raising awareness for those still fighting and those who have lost their fight. 

Together, I believe we can change the statistics, fund better treatments, and ultimately find cures so that more families get the happy ending we were blessed to receive. Josie’s story gave childhood cancer a face for me, and I hope sharing her story can help give a voice to the children and families who need us to keep fighting.

About Kaitlin Selke
Kaitlin Selke is a proud mom of three and a passionate childhood cancer advocate whose perspective on childhood cancer changed forever when her daughter, Josie, was diagnosed with juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) at just 5 months old.

Josie spent more than a year undergoing chemotherapy as part of a clinical trial at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, funded by Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. Her treatment was tailored to her specific risk categories, giving her access to personalized care while allowing their family to remain close to home. Josie completed treatment in May 2026 and rang the bell in June to celebrate the end of chemotherapy. She is now in remission.

Throughout Josie’s journey, Kaitlin has become deeply passionate about raising awareness and advocating for increased childhood cancer research funding. Her family hosted their own Alex’s Lemonade Stand fundraiser, raising nearly $2,000 to support childhood cancer research. They have also organized a toy drive benefiting children receiving care at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.

Kaitlin has shared her family’s story and spoken at several fundraising events supporting different cancer research organizations. While she is incredibly grateful that Josie has reached remission, she knows their happy ending is not the reality for every family. She continues to use her voice to advocate for children still fighting, honor those who have been lost, and help raise the awareness and funding needed to develop better, more personalized treatments for every child facing cancer.

Read more about childhood cancer during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month here.