For those who’ve faced cancer, springtime can feel deeply symbolic. It mirrors the journey of healing and resilience – the quiet power of coming back to life after everything has changed. Spring is more than a season; it’s a reminder that renewal is always possible. 

And thanks to the generosity of Children’s Cancer Research Fund donors, that sense of renewal is more than symbolic – together, we’re funding multiple groundbreaking research projects focused on survivorship, helping more children not just survive cancer, but thrive in the seasons that follow. 

Raising a Survivor: Connor’s Story of Strength, Resilience and Spirit

At only 6 weeks old, Connor was diagnosed with stage 4 congenital glioblastoma multiforme, an extremely rare and highly aggressive brain tumor. He became the youngest patient to undergo an autologous bone marrow harvest, endured 6 rounds of chemotherapy and received a transplant – all before he was 7 months old. 

Now, 18 years later, he's the longest-known living survivor of his cancer type. A 2025 high school graduate, Connor faces the future with humor, strength and a contagious love for life.  

“When Connor was 3 or 4, my dream for him was to blend in with his classmates, to be an equal among his peers” said his mom, Mindy, director of Family Programs for Children’s Cancer Research Fund. “I realized years later, Connor was meant to stand out, to inspire and to shine. My job as his mother is not to cap his limits; I'm to open the ceiling for everything he can be.” 

Connor’s parents and extraordinary medical team credit his survival to the research conducted years before his family found themselves in the ICU receiving a life changing diagnosis. His survivorship, however, has come at a cost: vision and hearing loss, stroke survivor, short term memory loss, a traumatic brain injury and a lifetime of refractory epilepsy. 

The Cost of Survival 

Today, 85% of children diagnosed with cancer survive five years or more. But nearly two-thirds face serious long-term side effects – heart disease, cognitive impairments, secondary cancers – caused by their cancer treatments. As more children survive cancer, research into survivorship is more critical than ever. 

The Long Game: Life After Cancer 

Children’s Cancer Research Fund invests in projects that look beyond kids simply surviving cancer – to futures of long-term health, healing and happiness. Your support impacts research that: 

• Fights AML Relapse

  Dr. Michael Andreeff (MD Anderson) is targeting MYC, a mutated gene in AML, with a new drug that selectively destroys cancer-driving proteins. Early results show promising effect against leukemia with minimal impact on healthy cells.

• Prevents RMS Relapse

  Dr. Brian Crompton (Dana-Farber) is using liquid biopsy to identify rhabdomyosarcoma patients at risk of relapse, tailoring treatment intensity to improve survival and reduce unnecessary side effects.

• Empowers Families and Care Teams

  Dr. Katie Greenzang (Dana-Farber) knows parents crave better understanding about the potential long-term effects of childhood cancer treatment, but rarely receive meaningful, clear information. She’s testing naviGATE, a family-friendly app engineered to spark conversations and inform shared decision-making among care teams.

• Builds Social Skills After Brain Tumors

  Dr. Matthew Hocking (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia) is testing FaceSay, a game-like tool to improve facial recognition in survivors, aiming to ease social isolation and improve relationships.

• Reduces Sedation Risks

  Dr. Jennifer Levine (Children’s National Hospital) is testing virtual reality with local anesthesia to help kids with leukemia undergo spinal taps without general anesthesia. Repeated anesthesia can cause cognitive issues, especially when kids need multiple procedures. Early results are positive, and she's now creating a VR module to prepare patients for the procedure.

• Treats Leukemia Without Chemo

  Dr. John Wagner (University of Minnesota) is creating a chemo-free, off-the-shelf CAR T cell therapy for tough cases of leukemia, using a potent T cell type. A clinical trial is in progress.

The Futures We’re Growing Together 

Connor is living proof of what science, hope and an unbreakable spirit can achieve. Because of you, kids like Connor have a chance not just to survive, but to thrive. Your generosity is accelerating bold research across the country – transforming treatment, improving lives, and bringing more kids into a brighter, healthier future. 

From all of us at Children’s Cancer Research Fund – thank you. Your support powers breakthroughs, builds futures and gives families hope.