PRESERVING FERTILITY IN PEDIATRIC CANCER PATIENTS
The Fertility Preservation Program at Hackensack Meridian Health’s Children’s Cancer Institute at Hackensack Meridian Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital is dedicated to addressing the potential long-term impacts of pediatric cancer on fertility, providing essential support to young patients and their families. At the forefront of this initiative is Laurie Donnelly, RN, the patient navigator who assists families in understanding their fertility preservation options after receiving a cancer diagnosis, considering factors such as age, gender and treatment. Laurie’s position is made possible entirely by philanthropic support from donors like you. Thank you to our donors for helping ensure our patients have access to fertility preservation and future family-building options during a challenging time. Your support truly makes a lasting difference.
KEEPING CHILDREN HEALTHY, NO MATTER THE COST
One of the major challenges faced by pediatric patients and their families is the cost of critical, life-saving medications. Some medications may not be fully covered by insurance, or have high copays, and patients often require multiple prescriptions. This creates a financial strain on families. Thanks to our donors, the hospital is able to underwrite these medications and alleviate that burden so families can focus on what truly matters: helping children heal.
CHAMPIONING SAFE CYCLING FOR KIDS
At Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital, our mission is to ensure the health and well-being of children. In addition to medical care, sharing education and safety resources with children and their families can also help prevent injuries and accidents. Recently, thanks to the generosity of our donors, the hospital purchased and distributed bicycle helmets for a number of children in the local community and provided educational resources about the importance of bike safety. By ensuring that children and their families understand the importance of helmets, and have access to them, we are actively working to keep children safe.
THE POWER OF FAMILY
There is no medicine that can replicate what a loved one’s presence can do for a child’s health. For a child staying in the hospital, having a parent of guardian with them offers no greater comfort. That’s why Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital is proud to offer transportation assistance to patients and caregivers who otherwise would be unable to get to the hospital. This program fills a critical gap and allows for the entire family to be present during important appointments, treatments or procedures. By supporting both the child and their family, we strive to create an environment that fosters healing and strengthens family bonds. This has only been made possible through the generosity of donors like you.
NOURISHING NEW BEGINNINGS
In the Mary Sanzari Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), dietitians play a crucial role in supporting both the medical team and families. Their expertise is vital in developing and optimizing nutritional plans for babies, ensuring the best possible outcomes during this critical period. Dietitians in the NICU work closely with the medical team, participating in rounds to help develop comprehensive feeding and nutritional plans for each baby. Throughout a baby’s stay in the NICU, dietitians also meticulously track growth and development. They use this data to tailor nutritional plans, determining whether a baby needs more protein, fewer calories or other adjustments. The NICU-specialized dietitians are made possible through philanthropy, and we are grateful for the donors who help our youngest patients.
Be The Difference is a transformational effort focusing on four key pillars: enhancing the delivery of patient care, accelerating groundbreaking research and discovery, expanding access to advanced care and revolutionizing medical education while supporting the nursing profession.
Through this ambitious initiative, Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation aims to reshape health care for patients, clinicians and the diverse communities it serves, paving the way for a brighter, healthier future. Thank you for making a difference!
BREAKTHROUGH IN A RARE PEDIATRIC BRAIN
TUMOR
Embryonal Tumor with Multilayered Rosettes (ETMR) is a rare and aggressive brain tumor predominantly affecting children under the age of four. It has only been recognized as a distinct type of tumor within the past 15 years, which means there is still much to learn about its behavior and treatment. A dedicated, donor-funded research lab, led by Derek Hanson, M.D., section chief, Pediatric Neuro-Oncology, and Claire Carter, Ph.D., assistant member of the Center at Discovery and Innovation; assistant professor of Pathology at the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, has become a focal point for ETMR studies. The lab has achieved notable success in understanding and treating ETMR through the use of advanced techniques, which has allowed for more precise analysis of tumor aggressiveness and complexity, as ETMR tumors often respond differently to treatments in various regions of the brain. Recognizing the rarity of ETMR, with only about five to 30 cases in the United States annually, Dr. Hanson has also created an ETMR registry of treatment data and tumor samples. Collaboration with doctors worldwide has been crucial in advancing research, and as research continues, there is hope for even more effective and less invasive treatment options for young patients with ETMR.
