Two years ago, Tina Green’s daughter, Aurora, experienced severe abdominal pain that doctors later diagnosed as a stage three Wilms tumor – a type of kidney cancer that can occur in children. Aurora endured surgery to remove her kidney and tumor, seven rounds of both radiation and chemotherapy, loss of her hair and a rapid drop in weight leading to her feeding through a tube.
“It was the worst year of my life,” Green said. “I was in complete and utter fear.”
Today, Aurora is 10 years old and cancer free. And her mother continues to give back to the community where she found so much support.
Green is helping by chairing the second annual Seattle CureSearch Walk for children’s cancer Sept. 15. The walk, taking place at Magnuson Park, is hosted by CureSearch for Children’s Cancer and will raise money to support research and families impacted by childhood cancer.
CureSearch, a national non-profit organization, works with more than 175 hospitals across the U.S. to provide clinical trials for childhood cancer treatment, resources to families and funding for research. Partnered with Seattle Children’s, CureSearch was one of the resources Green first leaned on while Aurora went through treatment.
Through CureSearch, she familiarized herself with the medical care her daughter was receiving and what she found shocked her. Many of the treatments children have received are designed for adults and can possibly lead to life-long effects after treatment. Also, only about 2 percent of cancer research funds are set aside for cures for children.
To bridge that gap, CureSearch has sponsored community events to raise money.
In February 2011, Green learned the organization was planning a walk in Seattle for the first time and decided to get involved. Now in its second year, the Seattle CureSearch Walk is chaired by Green who participates in the event with friends and family.
“Here our kids are our future and they aren’t getting the same research adults are getting,” Green said. “If she ever got cancer again, or any other parents who hear ‘your child has cancer,’ I want them to hear that there are treatments designed just for their kid and their success rate is going to be awesome.”
Mary Jean Spadafora: 425-453-4270, ext. 28-5058;
mspadafora@bellevuereporter.com
