On the recordSeptember 22, 2016
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. It is time to bring awareness to this heartless disease and to the demands and challenges of the families affected. Childhood cancer is an especially important topic in our office. My deputy chief of staff, Robert Boland's daughter, Abigail, was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, which is a rare cancer that affects the eyes, when she was only 2 months old. Thankfully, Abigail survived her cancer and is a happy, growing little girl. Abigail and her parents are fortunate, but they, like all families who deal with childhood cancer, had many a sleepless night. No parent should ever have to watch a child fight a life-threatening disease. Unfortunately, that is not the case for many. Every year in the United States, there are more than 15,000 children who are diagnosed with cancer. Statistics show that 80 percent of childhood cancer cases are diagnosed only after the disease has already metastasized and spread. This makes research absolutely necessary. That is why we must spread the word and raise awareness. All children deserve a future, and it is vital that we do everything in our power to help give them that chance. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to direct their remarks to the Chair and not to a perceived viewing audience. ____________________
