Ascencio Family Cancer Support

Orlan is a little boy who loves construction vehicles, animals, and music. His talkativeness rivals his mama's, he is incredibly goofy like his papa, and he loves trying to surprise our birds so they peep at him or fly away. He’s easy going and has an incredible memory. He sees his extended family most weeks and has made friends at the in-home daycare he's attended for almost 2 years.

 

A few months before his 3rd birthday, Orlan was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, affecting only 1:200,000 children. For two years, it was misdiagnosed as a variety of dermatological issues. Once a bump rapidly formed on his head in June, a series of tests revealed that he has cancer in his skin and bones. The primary treatment is chemo administered for one week every month for a year. On top of that, he has already had (and will likely continue to have) surgeries and hospitalizations to manage the cancer’s direct effects and the side effects of the chemo. In the past 2.5 months alone we’ve both missed about a month of work, most of which was due to urgent appointments, scans, and procedures.

 

It will be difficult for him to attend daycare during the year due to being immunocompromised and the complexity of his care (medication administration, monitoring symptoms and side effects, keeping surgical incisions clean). To provide consistent care for him, Jaime significantly reduced her work hours and is temporarily entirely remote. Alex will take a few (unpaid) days off each month to give her some work time, in addition to being home during chemo weeks and any appointments.

 

In addition to the financial aspect, there is substantial "behind the scenes" when a child has cancer that we are spending time and energy on. There are hours every week on the phone with nurses, managing a dozen prescriptions, coordinating insurances, and just feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and terrified.

 

Thank you, so much, for your support. We look forward to the time when we can repay the generosity to others.