The Litter Box Week 1: Make a Wish Foundation

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The Litter Box is pleased to announce that this week they have partnered with the Make-a-Wish foundation to grant several children their wish to attend a London United Game. Molly the Cat and the London United are happy to be part of these children’s wishes. The ability to host the children, families and caregivers in the Litter Box is extremely humbling. We hope that everyone invited was able to enjoy the game and the hospitality of the city of London. Each child and their families received round trip flights, accommodations, meals a tour package of London, tickets to the game and a VIP package which includes signed team memorabilia a tour of the locker room and meet and greet session with some of the team. 

 

Organization: Make-a-Wish 

 

Since 1983, the Make-A-Wish foundation has created life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. They are on a quest to bring every eligible child's wish to life, because a wish is an integral part of a child's treatment journey. Research shows children who have wishes granted can build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight a critical illness. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Make-A-Wish is the world’s leading children’s wish-granting organization, serving children in every community, in more than 50 countries worldwide. 

If you would like to support Make-A-Wish foundation through volunteering, donating or even referring a child you can contact your local chapter of Make-A-Wish through their website. This organization helps thousands of children every year. Please consider reaching out and assisting in any way you can. 

 

Feature Child: Thomas Smith 

Thomas Smith, one of the children who was able to attend the game is currently battling Childhood Leukemia. Thomas is 14 years old and comes from Oxford, England. Thomas attended the game with his parents and his younger sister. Leukemia is the most common cancer in children and teens, accounting for almost 1 out of 3 cancers. Most childhood leukemias are acute lymphocytic leukemia.  

 

Most children who are receiving treatment for childhood leukemia go through a series of treatments including high dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplants. A stem cell transplant (SCT) (also known as a bone marrow transplant) can sometimes be used to help improve the chances of curing childhood leukemia. SCT lets doctors use even higher doses of chemotherapy than a child could normally tolerate. High-dose chemotherapy destroys the bone marrow, which is where leukemia starts, but it's also where new blood cells are formed. This could lead to life-threatening infections, bleeding, and other problems caused by low blood cell counts. A stem cell transplant is given after the chemo to restore the blood-forming stem cells in the bone marrow. The blood-forming stem cells used for a transplant can come either from the blood or from the bone marrow. Sometimes stem cells from a baby’s umbilical cord blood are used. 

 

If you would like more information about Cancer risks, diagnosis and treatment, please contact your local Cancer Society. If you would like to donate to assist in the treatment of children’s cancer, please contact your local children’s hospital or cancer center and make your donation.