Resources

Support for families affected by rhabdomyosarcoma comes in a variety of ways: Family Assistance, Financial Assistance, Support Groups, Facebook Groups and more. Take advantage of as many as you can as you go through this journey.

photo of two man and one woman standing near tree

Family Assistance

Chai Lifeline - (https://www.chailifeline.org/)
Chai Lifeline has grown from a small, community-based summer camp program for children with cancer to one of the preeminent international health support networks supporting seriously ill children, their families, and communities.

Chai Lifeline's programs and services meet the unique emotional, social, and financial needs of families living with serious pediatric illness or loss.

From the moment of diagnosis or trauma, Chai Lifeline's professionals and trained, compassionate volunteers step in to help restore equilibrium and bring joy and hope back into lives devastated by medical crises and illness.

Courageous Parents Network - (https://courageousparentsnetwork.org/)
Courageous Parents Network is a destination created by families, for families, to support and strengthen them as they care for very sick children. It is about providing parents with the skills, tools and virtual support they need to cope and adapt during their child’s illness journey so as to make the impossible possible.

MaxLove Project - (http://www.maxloveproject.org/)
MaxLove Project is an innovative nonprofit organization that advocates for the integration of evidence-based quality of life care and integrative medicine into standard pediatric cancer care. We do this through our support of pioneering cancer research, family-centered programs, easy-to-understand health education, and support for complementary and preventive therapies in healthcare settings. Each of these initiatives aims to improve quality of life and lower health risks for childhood cancer patients, survivors, and their families.

The SamFund - (http://www.thesamfund.org/)
We provide support to young adults who are struggling financially due to cancer. Twice a year, we give grants to survivors aged 21-39 to help with medical bills, living expenses, and much more. We also offer free online support and education through our Webinar series, "Moving Forward With Your Financial Health," Finances 101 Toolkit program, and blog. In short, we recognize that cancer isn’t free and make it okay for young adults to ask for help.

First Hand Foundation - https://applications.cerner.com/firsthand/
First Hand is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization that provides funding for individual children with health-related needs when insurance and other financial resources have been exhausted. Last year, through the generosity of people like you, more than $2 million was donated to the foundation. We turned around and spent all of it on improving the health status of children around the world

Childhood Cancer Society - http://www.childhoodcancersociety.org/
Childhood Cancer Society (CCS) began with the vision of a 16-year-old high school student who realized that having family around him while he was being evaluated for childhood leukemia created the support that he needed to cope. The Childhood Cancer Society provides funds for medical care, accommodations, and travel expenses to make it possible for families in need to obtain the necessary care for their children and to be with them when out of town hospitalization and treatment is required.

Solving Kids' Cancer - http://solvingkidscancer.org/
Find, fund, and manage solutions to improve survivorship

National GRACE Foundation - http://graceamerica.org/
The National GRACE Foundation provides FREE college admissions and financial aid counseling to pediatric cancer patients and survivors.

National Children's Cancer Society - http://nationalchildrenscancersociety.org/#We serve as a financial, emotional, and educational resource for families that can’t make ends meet when their child is diagnosed with cancer.

Financial Assistance

Online Support Groups

American Childhood Cancer Organization On-Line Community
http://www.acco.org/Information/Support/OnlineSupportGroups.aspx

Smart Patients - https://www.smartpatients.com/
Smart Patients is an online community where cancer patients and caregivers learn from each other about treatments, clinical trials, the latest science, and how it all fits into the context of their experience.

Stupidcancer - www.stupidcancer.org
Stupid Cancer is a non-profit organization that empowers young adults affected by cancer through innovative and award-winning programs and services

Facebook Groups/Pages

Focus On Rhabdo - https://www.facebook.com/groups/focusonrhabdo/

Chemo Side Effects - https://www.facebook.com/groups/182546215678616

Rhabdo Survivors - [https://www.facebook.com/groups/101528804029760/?ref=br_rs ]

Pediatric Rhabdomyosarcoma Support Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/58420247707/

Rhabdomyosarcoma Family Research Group -https://www.facebook.com/groups/409601769497102/

Rhabdomyosarcoma Journeys of Hope and Encouragement - https://www.facebook.com/groups/731881336903769/

Parents Who Lost Their Kids to Rhabdomyosarcoma -https://www.facebook.com/groups/984567434954264/

Rhabdomyosarcoma Info - Fight It & Inform Others - https://www.facebook.com/groups/4416511994/about/

Rhabdomyosarcoma - https://www.facebook.com/groups/333666080041266/about/

Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma and other rare cancers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/195942770433098/

Rhabdomyosarcoma Cancer Awareness - https://www.facebook.com/groups/106161276081669/about/

Rhabdomyosarcoma Support Group (UK) - https://www.facebook.com/groups/187378267965361/

Rhabdomyosarcoma Survivors - https://www.facebook.com/groups/111008402296832/about/

The following is a categorized list (continually growing) of links to online resources for those dealing with rhabdomyosarcoma. Although we Focus on Rhabdo, there is a category for all childhood and young adult cancer patients and families.Write your text here...

Books, Publications, and Other Resources

Childhood Cancer Guides http://www.childhoodcancerguides.org
Childhood Cancer Guides is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that publishes award-winning books for families of kids with cancer and survivors of childhood cancer. Our books are a mix of accurate medical information that is reviewed by renowned experts in pediatric oncology and true stories—practical, poignant, moving, funny—from hundreds of children with cancer, their siblings, and their parents. Our guides empower families with knowledge, practical suggestions, emotional support, and helpful resources.

Rhabdomyosarcoma - A booklet for parents. What you need to know. - Parent's Booklet
http://www.rhabdomyosarcomabooklet.org.uk/docs/rhabdobklt.pdfThis website has been created to enable parents and families whose children have been diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma to access a booklet about the condition. The booklet was written by Dianne Haley whose daughter Claire was diagnosed and treated for rhabdomyosarcoma in 2004/05 at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh. The booklet was updated in 2012

The ESUN Guide for the Newly Diagnosed - The Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative - ESUN Guide
http://sarcomahelp.org/guides/newly_diagnosed.html
The Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative provides educational resources and personal support for everyone dealing with sarcoma. Because we've been publishing articles written by sarcoma specialists and advocates for nearly 10 years, there is much information to be found at [SarcomaHelp.org](http://sarcomahelp.org/)

US National Library of Medicine - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002402/
PubMed Health article on Rhabdomyosarcoma (somewhat technical)

National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/childrhabdomyosarcoma/Patient
Article on Childhood Rhabdomyosarcoma - Patients Version

National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/childrhabdomyosarcoma/HealthProfessional
Article on Childhood Rhabdomyosarcoma - Health Professional Version

Ped-Onc Resource Center - Rhabdomyosarcoma - http://www.ped-onc.org/diseases/rhabdo.html
Resources and information for parents of children with cancer . . . by parents of children with cancer.

Ped-Onc Resource Center - Signs of Childhood Cancer-
http://www.ped-onc.org/diseases/SOCC.html#rhabdo ]
Childhood cancer is rare. It is unlikely that your child will develop cancer. Still, as a parent, you need to be aware of the symptoms of childhood cancer. (Scroll down to section on Rhabdo)

CureSearch for Children's Cancer - http://www.curesearch.org/coping-with-cancer/
Offers some basic guidance for patients, parents, siblings, extended family members, friends, neighbors, teachers and many others who care about a child with cancer.

American Childhood Cancer Organization - https://acco.org/Information/Resources/Books.aspx
Free books for Families of Children with Cancer

Other Resources for all childhood, adolescent and young adult cancers

The Tiny Sparrow Foundation - http://tinysparrowfoundation.org
We are a non-profit organization dedicated to providing lasting memories through the beautiful art of photography to the families within the United States of America with children who are facing life threatening illnesses.

With the help of photographers nationwide, we are able to give a beautiful album that will carry the love, joy and everlasting memory of each individual family.

Monkey In My Chair - http://www.monkeyinmychair.org/
Along with the diagnosis of a serious illness comes time away from school. Whether it is only a day here and there or maybe weeks or months at a time, this can be hard for the child and their classmates.

Monkey in My Chair is a program originally developed in honor of [Chloe Watson Feyerherm](http://www.thecurestartsnow.org/heroes/54/) for pre-school and elementary aged children who are away from school because of a cancer diagnosis. As a result of Chloe's experience, her mother, teachers and community got together to develop the Monkey In My Chair program through the efforts of their newly established charity, the [Love, Chloe Foundation](http://www.lovechloefoundation.org/). In 2011, in an attempt to have the program complement cancer research efforts, the Love, Chloe Foundation partnered with [The Cure Starts Now Foundation](http://www.thecurestartsnow.org/) to offer the program to a wider audience, thus increasing both awareness and donations to not only support the program but also fund the cure for cancer.

Through the program, each child is provided with a "monkey kit" which includes a big stuffed monkey that takes their place in school when they are unable to be there. The kits include the monkey with a backpack, a book to help teachers explain to students the situation their classmate is facing and how it affects them, teacher companion guide, along with other items that can be utilized by the child and/or their classmates. All kits are sent out at no cost to the families or hospitals.

In addition to each "Monkey Kit," each child will be given online access to Monkey Message. Monkey Message is an online component that allows the sharing of pictures and documents to ensure the line of communication stays open between the patient and the classroom. Included in the Monkey Message portal are regular educational activities for the classroom and patients to do that help to foster interaction of students while incorporating key educational tools.

Gabe's Chemo Duck Program - http://chemoduck.org/
Gabe's Chemo Duck Program™ is a unique educational program offered by Gabe’s My Heart, a nonprofit organization that supports children and families living with cancer. Created by a mother for her son Gabe when he was diagnosed with cancer at a young age, Chemo Duck is a soft, cuddly companion that provides huggable hope and alleviates fear and anxiety. Developed with the help of child life specialists and medical professionals, the Chemo Duck Program helps introduce children and families to their new life and encourages healing through the power of play therapy.

Peach's Neet Feet - http://peachsneetfeet.com/
The mission of Peach’s Neet Feet (PNF) is to provide tangible ways to be compassionate, and inspire others to engage in acts of kindness. This is accomplished by providing services that include, but are not limited to: painting and distributing personalized shoes to children experiencing hardship in the form of chronic illness, and disability; organizing and sending care packages to families with children inpatient or in hospice; providing workshops for school aged children to encourage kindness; and providing supportive art programs for children and the elderly.

Chemo Angles - http://chemoangels.wix.com/chemo-angels-1/
The Chemo Angels program offers support to those who find themselves in the most challenging situation of their lives – battling a cancer diagnosis and undergoing IV chemo treatment.

Our volunteers support their “buddy” throughout their journey with cards, uplifting messages, supportive words and lots of positive energy. The encouragement our Angels provide helps give patients the comfort and confidence of knowing they are not alone in their fight.

The goal of Chemo Angels is to help fuel a positive attitude and aid in the road to recovery. Volunteers find that providing emotional support is a most rewarding experience.

SuperSibs! - http://www.supersibs.org/
At Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, we know that childhood cancer affects the whole family, not only the child who receives the diagnosis.

Brothers and sisters of cancer patients often face fear, anxiety, changes in daily routines, worry, grief and even jealousy as their family is thrown into the emotional turmoil of managing a child’s cancer treatment.

SuperSibs, a program of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, is dedicated to comforting, encouraging, and empowering siblings during their family’s battle against childhood cancer, so these children and teens can face the future with courage and hope.

Keep Kids Connected - http://www.keepkidsconnected.org/
Keep Kids Connected was created to help keep kids connected to their family and friends while they are undergoing treatment for cancer or other life-threatening illnesses. The organization was inspired by Caitlyn Mortus who is, herself, a cancer survivor.

Wigs for Kids - http://www.wigsforkids.org/
For over 30 years, Wigs for Kids has been providing Hair Replacement Systems and support for children who have lost their hair due to chemotherapy, radiation therapy, Alopecia, Trichotillomania, burns and other medical issues at no cost to children or their families.The effects of hair loss go deeper than just a change in a child’s outward appearance. Hair loss can erode a child’s self-confidence and limit them from experiencing life the way children should. With an injured self-image, a child’s attitude toward treatment and their physical response to it can be negatively affected also. Wigs for Kids helps children suffering from hair loss look themselves and live their lives.Because we never charge families for hair replacements, we depend on generous people like you that want to help donate hair for cancer and other sources of hair loss. In order to help children who have suffered from hair loss due to complications such as Alopecia in children and other medical issues, a monetary or hair donation is always appreciated.

Sunshine Kids - http://www.sunshinekids.org
The Sunshine Kids is a non-profit organization dedicated to children with cancer. Established in 1982, we are committed to providing positive group activities and emotional support for young cancer patients. The Sunshine Kids provides a variety of programs and events, free of charge, for Kids who are receiving cancer treatments in hospitals across North America.