I was a pediatric leukemia nurse care manager for six years before becoming the mom of a dragonfly myself. No amount of knowledge or experience can prepare you for the words, “your child has cancer”. Our daughter, Isla, was diagnosed with high risk Acute lymphoblastic leukemia at 20 months old. My coworkers and friends took on a new role in …
In this episode, dragonfly parents, Stacy and Adam, reflect on the impact cancer and The Dragonfly Foundation have had on their family after their young daughter Kylie was diagnosed. They also share stories of the support they received from the community, their children’s school, and others. Dragonfly has been with them from the beginning, starting with a bag of essentials …
Rick, age 32, is a 5-time survivor and a Dragonfly. Since age 8, Rick has diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a form of brain cancer. He endured numerous surgeries and aggressive chemotherapy and radiation treatments (including cranial and spinal radiation). Numerous side effects compromised his immune system and resulted in other medical concerns, including bacterial meningitis and shingles. He conquered his original …
In this podcast, Dragonfly mom, Aimee, shares what happened after they moved to Cincinnati, OH in the hope of finding a cure for her teen-aged son Ian’s health issues. After being misinformed by doctors in her former town, a Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center endocrinologist diagnosed Ian with a rare form of cancer: Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH). This form of cancer …
In this podcast, Dragonfly mom, Brittany, recounts her daughter’s journey from what she thought was an attack of appendicitis to having Kylie’s kidney removed and what The Dragonfly Foundation means to her and her family. Kylie was four-years-old when she was diagnosed with cancer. Brittany talks with host and Dragonfly co-founder, Ria Davidson, about how she went from “my stomach …
In September 2018, The Dragonfly Foundation purchased and began renovating the Hauck Heine House in Cincinnati. This video is an update of the renovations of the carriage house, part of Dragonfly’s new headquarters. Lovingly referred to as “The Landing,” the 15,000 sq. ft. property includes a main house and a carriage house. It provides a permanent location for our non-profit …
In September 2018, The Dragonfly Foundation purchased and began renovating the Hauck Heine House in Cincinnati. This video is an update of the renovations of the main house, Dragonfly’s new headquarters. Lovingly referred to as “The Landing,” this property includes a main house, a carriage house and a beautiful front yard, provides a permanent location for our non-profit — 5 …
Six years ago, Johanne’s young son was rushed to the hospital with a kidney cancer. Unprepared for the news and from that point forward, Johanne found comfort in The Dragonfly Foundation. While every family affected by cancer has a unique story and circumstance, Johanne found a welcoming, understanding community among Dragonfly families. She describes procedures and how that made her feel like …
This episode of The Dragonfly Effect podcast focuses on how Dragonfly provides emotional, relational and practical support for its families in critical times during and after treatment. Devon shares how Dragonfly supported her family in a way no one else could, becoming a beacon of light in dark times while her family struggled with isolation and financial pressure throughout her son’s cancer treatment. She also describes ongoing challenges related to recovery and survivorship.
Our families enjoyed a day of being treated like professional baseball players. Thanks to the generosity of CBTS/Cincinnati Bell, Dragonfly patients and families had the opportunity to play baseball on the field of Great American Ball Park. Part of this experience included surprising patients and their siblings/offspring with customized Reds jerseys hung in the visitor’s clubhouse — with each shirt …
