Lunch Money for Pediatric Cancer
Donation protected
My name is Kristin Cosner and I'm the founder of Team G Childhood Cancer Foundation that raises funds for pediatric cancer research and hope totes (care packages to send to newly diagnosed families of childhood cancer). My daughter was 4 years old when she was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma. After a year of treatment, she is now a survivor and is currently 8 1/2 years old.
I am a cancer mom. Once a cancer mom, always a cancer mom. I'm also a registered nurse and have worked in the emergency department (including a pediatric trauma center) and intensive care for over 15 years. Hearing the words, "Your child has cancer" changed me forever. It has inspired me to take our pediatric cancer journey to the next level not only personally, but academically and professionally.
My ask: Pediatric cancer has changed my life so significantly that I am stepping out of my comfort zone to ask for help with my graduate studies. I am asking for help with the most important and passionate career move I will be undertaking...returning to graduate school for a Masters of Science in Nursing and obtaining my Pediatric Nurse Practitioner license with pediatric oncology as my specialty. When it comes to children, especially cancer stricken children and most certainly, cancer children who are moments away from dying, I will stop at nothing (except for my own two children) to make a difference. I'm asking for assistance by means of scholarship funding and/or grants for my education at UCSF (one of the top medical and nursing schools in California). Is it possible that your organization makes grants to parents of oncology children who will specialize in pediatric oncology? I am reaching out to many organizations to ask this same question. This is completely separate from our foundation since our organization funds go to pediatric cancer research and hope totes and is not for my own personal use.
My goal through this journey has always been to be completely transparent. I've done my best to turn those feelings of despair and complete disbelief into positive action. Most importantly...I've turned these feelings into courage. Courage to take my family through treatment, courage to fight pediatric cancer, courage to ask for money for pediatric cancer research and now, courage to ask for help funding my education. All of these roles will lead me to the same goal...helping children and families fight pediatric cancer. I know I will make a difference!
Here's my graduate school essay:
http://gabriellacosner.blogspo t.com/2016/06/next-stop.html
To be transparent as I possibly can, please note: This funding will be used for tuition at UCSF, books and school purposes (possibly a few lunches here and there). Whatever remains will be donated back to pediatric cancer research. This funding will not go through Team G Childhood Cancer Foundation therefore, it is not a tax write off.
Thank you so much for helping me continue to fight! Please share.
Warmly,
Kristin Cosner, RN BSN
If you are still reading...here is another part of my application:
"The most significant and life changing experience was when my oldest daughter, Gabriella was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma at the age of 4. My youngest daughter, Bridget, was not yet 2 and life had turned completely upside down. Both girls were healthy, happy babies and all of a sudden we were faced with a childhood cancer diagnosis. For the following year, her treatments consisted of multiple surgeries, chemotherapy, days of radiation, many hospital trips and many overnight stays along with a multitude of drugs and procedures to cure her. I ended up taking a leave of absence from work in order to care for my family while my husband continued his job. On days that my husband had to work, I found myself bringing Gabriella to clinic treatment at the hospital 40 minutes away while having to hold Bridget and console her as Gabriella was getting IV's, blood transfusions, or chemotherapy; all while trying to keep my family together and figure out how to be a mom. In the beginning, it was a nightmare. No one ever wants to hear the words "your child has cancer" but this was our chosen path and we had to travel it. Through the experience, we found strength in the community, in our friends and family and most importantly, each other. I had never believed in the kindness of humanity as much as I believed after my daughter was diagnosed.
Being a registered nurse in an acute care setting for many years, including emergency/trauma with children and adults and intensive care, assisted me in dealing with a multitude of situations throughout Gabriella's treatment. I was familiar with the procedures, the medical language, crisis management and the hospital setting and new what questions to ask. I also focused on the roles that each of the health care providers played because I knew that this was my given future. I often asked which school the pediatric nurse practitioners went to and many of them were UCSF graduates.
Having a child experience cancer opened the door to many opportunities. I've been able to learn that the pediatric cancer population is devastatingly underfunded, vulnerable and diverse. I've been able to learn about oncology down to the specific cells and genomes, find research that will assist scientists in creating more effective treatments, collaborate with physicians, investigators, nonprofits and other cancer parents all over the world. I've been able to assist those families newly diagnosed with childhood cancer and guide them through the emotional and physical aspects of their treatments. Most importantly, my child is a survivor and I've been where many of these parents are when they walk through the doors of an oncology clinic for the first time. I have the ability to give hope to so many others."
I am a cancer mom. Once a cancer mom, always a cancer mom. I'm also a registered nurse and have worked in the emergency department (including a pediatric trauma center) and intensive care for over 15 years. Hearing the words, "Your child has cancer" changed me forever. It has inspired me to take our pediatric cancer journey to the next level not only personally, but academically and professionally.
My ask: Pediatric cancer has changed my life so significantly that I am stepping out of my comfort zone to ask for help with my graduate studies. I am asking for help with the most important and passionate career move I will be undertaking...returning to graduate school for a Masters of Science in Nursing and obtaining my Pediatric Nurse Practitioner license with pediatric oncology as my specialty. When it comes to children, especially cancer stricken children and most certainly, cancer children who are moments away from dying, I will stop at nothing (except for my own two children) to make a difference. I'm asking for assistance by means of scholarship funding and/or grants for my education at UCSF (one of the top medical and nursing schools in California). Is it possible that your organization makes grants to parents of oncology children who will specialize in pediatric oncology? I am reaching out to many organizations to ask this same question. This is completely separate from our foundation since our organization funds go to pediatric cancer research and hope totes and is not for my own personal use.
My goal through this journey has always been to be completely transparent. I've done my best to turn those feelings of despair and complete disbelief into positive action. Most importantly...I've turned these feelings into courage. Courage to take my family through treatment, courage to fight pediatric cancer, courage to ask for money for pediatric cancer research and now, courage to ask for help funding my education. All of these roles will lead me to the same goal...helping children and families fight pediatric cancer. I know I will make a difference!
Here's my graduate school essay:
http://gabriellacosner.blogspo t.com/2016/06/next-stop.html
To be transparent as I possibly can, please note: This funding will be used for tuition at UCSF, books and school purposes (possibly a few lunches here and there). Whatever remains will be donated back to pediatric cancer research. This funding will not go through Team G Childhood Cancer Foundation therefore, it is not a tax write off.
Thank you so much for helping me continue to fight! Please share.
Warmly,
Kristin Cosner, RN BSN
If you are still reading...here is another part of my application:
"The most significant and life changing experience was when my oldest daughter, Gabriella was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma at the age of 4. My youngest daughter, Bridget, was not yet 2 and life had turned completely upside down. Both girls were healthy, happy babies and all of a sudden we were faced with a childhood cancer diagnosis. For the following year, her treatments consisted of multiple surgeries, chemotherapy, days of radiation, many hospital trips and many overnight stays along with a multitude of drugs and procedures to cure her. I ended up taking a leave of absence from work in order to care for my family while my husband continued his job. On days that my husband had to work, I found myself bringing Gabriella to clinic treatment at the hospital 40 minutes away while having to hold Bridget and console her as Gabriella was getting IV's, blood transfusions, or chemotherapy; all while trying to keep my family together and figure out how to be a mom. In the beginning, it was a nightmare. No one ever wants to hear the words "your child has cancer" but this was our chosen path and we had to travel it. Through the experience, we found strength in the community, in our friends and family and most importantly, each other. I had never believed in the kindness of humanity as much as I believed after my daughter was diagnosed.
Being a registered nurse in an acute care setting for many years, including emergency/trauma with children and adults and intensive care, assisted me in dealing with a multitude of situations throughout Gabriella's treatment. I was familiar with the procedures, the medical language, crisis management and the hospital setting and new what questions to ask. I also focused on the roles that each of the health care providers played because I knew that this was my given future. I often asked which school the pediatric nurse practitioners went to and many of them were UCSF graduates.
Having a child experience cancer opened the door to many opportunities. I've been able to learn that the pediatric cancer population is devastatingly underfunded, vulnerable and diverse. I've been able to learn about oncology down to the specific cells and genomes, find research that will assist scientists in creating more effective treatments, collaborate with physicians, investigators, nonprofits and other cancer parents all over the world. I've been able to assist those families newly diagnosed with childhood cancer and guide them through the emotional and physical aspects of their treatments. Most importantly, my child is a survivor and I've been where many of these parents are when they walk through the doors of an oncology clinic for the first time. I have the ability to give hope to so many others."
Organizer
Kristin Cosner
Organizer
Scotts Valley, CA
