By Christine Fugate, Special to the Independent
This year, 15,000 kids will be diagnosed with some form of childhood cancer. One Laguna Beach family knows how devastating this diagnosis can be.
In 2009, Susan and Steve Giusto’s daughter, Cathryn, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a pediatric cancer that begins in utero. “Cathryn was only 5 years old. When the neurosurgeon told us the mass in her back was cancer, we entered a world no parent expects to go. It was sheer terror.”
Cathryn was fortunate to receive the best treatments at Children’s Hospital of Orange County and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and is currently a seventh-grader at St. Margaret’s in San Juan Capistrano enjoying friends, volleyball and a lead role in the school musical.
During time spent in hospitals, Susan Giusto decided to establish FRoC (The Friends of Cathryn Fund), a non-profit organization committed to funding research to develop genetically targeted and less toxic treatments for children. The current treatments for neuroblastoma and other forms of children’s cancers often include lifelong side effects such as hearing loss, heart damage, and growth deficiency.
The Segerstrom Foundation’s annual Festival of Children has chosen FRoC to be part of this year’s Carousel of Possible Dreams.
“The National Cancer Institute spends 96% of its budget on adult cancers and only 4% on all of children’s cancers combined,” Susan Giusto said. “Private donations for pediatric cancer are absolutely imperative.”
On Thursday, Sept. 29, donors are invited to ride the carousel in South Coast Plaza with Cathryn, fellow survivors and friends. “I hope the community can help us reach our goal of $100,000.”
Susan said, “These donations can literally save children’s lives.”
Contribute online at www.festivalofchildren.org or by sending a check to: Festival of Children Foundation, 3315 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, attn. FRoC Fund.
The author is a Laguna Beach resident and cancer survivor.
