Dear Donators,

My name is Zen and I am 16 years old. When my parents first heard the news that I had cancer, they were devastated. They didn't know what to do, felt helpless and unsure about whether I would survive. The odds were not in my favor. I was diagnosed in 2008 and treated at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles. I'm quite fortunate because if I had been diagnosed only a few decades earlier, I would not have survived.

The technological advancements, the efforts, and the drive of those surrounding me all contributed to why I survived. Neuroblastoma has a small survival rate, so I'm grateful for all the hard work and effort that doctors, nurses, and researchers all put in to give me a chance to fight for my life. Because I was given this opportunity, I wanted to pay it forward. My goal is to raise money for research in neuroblastoma and find ways to give kids those same opportunities that doctors had given me, but with greater optimism. Hopefully, in the future, neuroblastoma will no longer be a difficult cancer to beat. No child should need to endure the pain of cancer, which unfortunately kids like myself have had to go through. But if diagnosed, I want to make that fight easier for them.

Because of everyone's efforts, I was given the opportunity to live my life fully, and I strive to do that every day. The cancer treatments I used, however, created late side effects that I deal with on a daily basis. Although one of the main late side effects I've gotten is severe hearing loss, I didn't let this stop me when I decided to learn to play the violin. Now, I am concertmaster at my school's orchestra and have made it into the Pasadena Youth Philharmonic. I'm determined to put my skill to good use and raise money for childhood cancer research, as a way to give back and say "Thank you."

Besides music, I enjoy running as well. I have run two half marathons. I like math, have two siblings, and aspire to be a doctor in the oncology or radiology field.

I hope you can donate. Any amount is appreciated and greatly helps! :)

Zen

More information about Children's Hospital Los Angeles: We create hope and build healthier futures.

Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit institution that provides pediatric health care and helps our patients more than 528,000 times each year in a setting designed just for their needs. Our history began in 1901 in a small house on the corner of Alpine and Castelar Streets (now Hill St. in Chinatown) and today our medical experts offer more than 350 pediatric specialty programs and services to meet the needs of our patients.