My 3-year-old daughter A was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in February 2022, a form of blood cancer. After her diagnosis, we spent 36 days inpatient at Hasbro Children's Hospital where she had her port placed, started chemotherapy, and had countless procedures, scans, blood draws, and multiple other tests. Physically, this month has left A with horrible side effects, an immense amount of pain & she endured things that no person, let alone a child ever should. Emotionally, A shut down. She had stopped speaking, started refusing to eat or take medications and was extremely agitated the majority of the time.

Upon leaving we transitioned to our new "home," the Tomorrow Fund Clinic, where A will be in active treatment and revive chemotherapy for 2 years. Our first day at clinic, we met A's primary nurse, Laurie. Laurie was extremely kind and had the patience of a saint. Prior to any treatment, we get a weight on A (something that sounds quite simple and easy) to make sure medication dosing is correct. On this day, A was especially agitated and even this simple task of stepping on the scale wasn't going to happen easily. After what felt like hours of A screaming, running, hiding, throwing herself on the ground, swinging her arms, and doing everything in her power to avoid stepping on this scale, Laurie asked if I was comfortable leaving the room and letting her talk to A. As I was walking out, A and Laurie started talking & chatting and within minutes Laurie had A standing on the scale with zero tears. This may seem like something small but for A was huge.

As we continue to see Laurie every week (sometimes multiple times a week) she continues to not only be her nurse but her friend. A is extremely comfortable with her, and it shows. She no longer cries and screams, it's no longer an awful experience and A now enjoys coming to the clinic to see her friend Laurie. A will continue her treatment for the next year and a half. Laurie's attitude, her kindness, her patience, and her genuine personality shine through when caring for A. No child should ever have cancer. The past year A has been through hell, and she has a long road ahead of her. One thing is for sure though - Laurie has made a bad situation less bad.