Childrens Leukemia Foundation - Assignment Example

Since these cancerous cells are found mostly in the blood and the bone marrow both of which are very essential to the body's proper functioning they have to be eliminated at great risk to the patient and have to be almost simultaneously transplanted as they are being eliminated by healthy blood and bone marrow. Leukemia may be acute or chronic. The most common type of leukemia is Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). Other less acute forms of this disease are usually grouped under the broad term Acute Non-lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), among which group is included Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).

National Cancer Institute The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is one of the premier institutes in the United States diagnosing, treating and alleviating cancer, including leukemia in children. It states in its statistical report that, each year, leukemia is diagnosed in 29,000 adults and 2,000 children. It disseminates information on the disease, both in adults and children, through its booklet - NIH Publication No: 02-3775. (NCI/MedicinePlus/Leukemia, Home page)Children's Leukemia Foundations Though there is the National Cancer Institute to assist parents of children afflicted with leukemia there are a few premium organizations - foundations specifically - that are also involved in providing such assistance specifically for children with leukemia and their families.

Two such institutions in the USA are the National Children's Leukemia Foundation (NCLF), based in Brooklyn, New York, and the Children's Leukemia Foundation of Michigan (CLFM), based in Southfield, Michigan. Both these institutions are non-profit organizations and provide financial and other very essential assistance to the afflicted children as well as psychological assistance to the families and the children. Since leukemia is a very trauma- causing disease both children and their families are psychologically drained during the diagnoses, treatments and aftercare situations and these institutions are specially geared to meet and assist in partly alleviating such exacting psychological pressures.

Both these institutions, in line with the structure of such institutions, have some commonalities that are bulleted below:They have toll-free lines to assist parents of leukemia-affected children with comprehensive information on all aspects of the disease including initial diagnosis, treatment plans, and aftercare prospects.They have referral programs to enable such individuals to find appropriate medical professionals and facilities.They have a volunteer program to recruit enabling individuals to the service of the unfortunates.

They have bequest and donation policies with tax benefits to enable accrual of finances with which to assist the unfortunates.They actively disseminate information on the disease to create awareness among the public so that leukemia can be fought on a nation-wide basis. They actively support the usage of stem cell therapy to assuage the ravages of the disease. Though stem cell therapy is controversial at present they contrive to use the least controversial one - stem cells derived from umbilical cords of babies - in seeking to alleviate the sufferings of the unfortunate children.

Both agencies actively support stem cell research that, at present, seems to hold the promise of a cure in the future from this extremely pernicious disease. (NCLF & CLFM Website Homepages) In addition to these commonalities, both these institutions have some salient features of their own. The Michigan-based institution has an active program to emotionally assist the afflicted children and their families recover fully from the aftermaths of the disease. It organizes functions feting the bravery of the children and metes out gifts (toys) to keep their spirits up.

It also funds research projects investigating aspects of the physical and emotional challenges children and families face. It has a "Special Needs Fund" to reimburse parents of children with needs. (CLFM Website Homepage)The New York-based institution has an active stem cell bank to assist bone marrow transfer with the least difficulties. It has a computerized bone marrow donors' database to enable problem-free matching of donor and recipient. It assists parents with insurance claims problems.

Insurance companies often use lacunae in the legal system concerning stem cell usage to deprive recipients of claims and the New York-based institution assists parents to recover such claims by actively financing legal proceedings. It also has a "Make a Dream Come True" program to fulfill the dream of any leukemia-fighting child anywhere in the nation. It is linked to the "Michael Awards", the fashion industry's annual awards ceremony, and receives benefits from it and passes these on to the leukemia-afflicted children and their families.

(NCLF Website Homepage)Conclusion Leukemia is such a pernicious disease that, especially in the case of little children who are just about to start on their journey through life, it is necessary for as many institutions as these two cited above to come forward and assist in its alleviation and cure.