SPOKANE, Wash. – September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. It’s an opportunity to not only talk about it but also learn of ways to help those who are experiencing it.
Denise Moss and her family can relate to them all too well.
“It was a really tough battle,” she said. “A lot of pain, a lot of suffering, lots of pokes. But she was a survivor for a very long time.”
She’s talking about her daughter Rebecca, and her courageous battle against cancer.
“She was three and a half when she was diagnosed,” Moss said. “She had a big tumor in her abdomen that grew out of her bladder.”
Even more than 30 years later, Moss remembers the sting and terror of it all vividly.
“(The doctor) immediately said this is a malignant tumor and we’re going to have to operate the next day and there’s a 15 percent chance of survival,” she recalled. “He said, this is a surgeon’s nightmare … so we just prayed.”
Rebecca made it through that surgery and extensive treatment that allowed her to grow into adulthood. As the oldest of three, she was loved beyond measure.
Every moment with her was deeply cherished until six years ago when Moss says the toll of her daughter’s fight became too much.
“She was 31,” she said. “She ended up with heart disease…and passed.”
Moss says Rebecca loved to give back, their whole family did. And still does. Her calling to help evolved into a career through the Childhood Cancer Coalition.
“I’ve been involved as a volunteer for a long time…about a year after my daughter finished treatment in 1991 is when I started,” she said. “When you go through this life changing experience, you’re left with a lot of trauma and a lot of gratitude. Most of us just really want to give back. I can’t tell you what an honor it is to be there for the families.”
Families like the McGee’s. Miles and Kait’s little girl Scottie Pine is battling cancer. He says the diagnosis came out of no where.
“We had no idea cancer could happen to Scottie,” Miles McGee said. “You cannot in your wildest nightmares think something like that could happen. We’re so thankful we found out as early as we did.”
And the reason for that was truly listening to their child.
“We found out because we trusted Scottie when she told us she hurt,” he said. “If I could say anything to any parent (it would be) please trust your gut and trust your children’s gut. If you think something is wrong, go get it looked at. It could be nothing and it probably is nothing. But things like Neuroblastom and other cancers can spread through their little bodies so fast.”
The family says as scary as the ordeal is, they also feel a lot of gratitude for all the love and support both in their hometown of Pomeroy but also their new ‘home away from home,’ Spokane.
“They’ve been rooting for Scottie since day one,” McGee said. “We can barely imagine the situation as it is and we couldn’t possibly fathom what this fight would be like without all of you.”
Moss says she knows how he feels, can still recall feeling overwhelming appreciation even during the most challenging of days. That’s why it just feels so right to continually give back through the Childhood Cancer Coalition. Right now, they are serving more than 170 local kids with an active cancer diagnosis in our region. Just three years ago, they say that number was 53. They assist with finances, have support groups for both parents and siblings and always try to make holidays extra special. If you’d like to learn more about the Childhood Cancer Coalition, visit: https://cccnw.org/
“We just say, we’re here for you…we know what it’s like,” Moss said. “And really that diagnosis is just heart wrenching and so, so scary but don’t look back. Look forward. You’re doing the best you can. We will be there with arms out to support you.
