Eight years ago, Taylor James was diagnosed with a form of high risk leukemia, at the age of three. Within days of the diagnosis the James family of New Lenox would learn their daughter would require a bone marrow transplant due to her high risk subtype of leukemia and that they needed to start looking for a bone marrow donor. Their oldest son Matt was found to be a perfect match and, within two months of her initial diagnosis, Taylor was undergoing a bone marrow transplant.
Eight years later, the James family decided to give back to the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation (POTCF), the organization that helped Taylor throughout her treatment period, by hosting a family Christmas party at their home in New Lenox to celebrate the eighth anniversary of her successful bone marrow transplant. The party attendees were asked to bring a toy for children currently undergoing cancer treatment at Hope Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn and Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago, the two institutions that cared for Taylor. Approximately 40 friends, neighbors, and family members were on hand to celebrate Taylor’s eight-year successful bone marrow transplant anniversary.
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Taylor’s mother Maureen recalled the positive effect that the toys from the Treasure Chest provided to her daughter throughout her treatments. “We love the Treasure Chest Foundation. It is very important for kids while going through cancer treatment.”
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POTCF Founder and CEO Colleen Kisel said, “My heart was especially moved as I could recall the day my son was diagnosed with leukemia. It is hard enough to hear the word cancer let alone that your child needs a bone marrow transplant all in the same sentence. We feel so blessed to have the support of the James family along with their friends and neighbors.”
When asked how she felt about giving up all of the toys collected during the holiday party, eleven-year-old Taylor said it best: “I think it’s nice to do this because other people did toy drives when I was in the hospital so I want to do the same for the kids.” Taylor’s big brother Connor chimed in, “I really enjoy doing this. Even if it’s a small toy it makes such a big difference to these kids.”
The POTCF is a non-profit organization serving more than 9,000 young cancer patients monthly in 46 hospitals nationwide. Nowhere else in the nation does such a program exist. Ms. Kisel founded the organization in 1996 after her then seven-year-old son Martin had been diagnosed with leukemia in 1993. She discovered that giving her son a toy after each procedure provided a calming distraction from his pain, noting that when children are diagnosed with cancer their world soon becomes filled with doctors, nurses, chemotherapy drugs, surgeries and seemingly endless painful procedures. Martin recently celebrated his 20th anniversary of remission from the disease.
If you would like further information about the Treasure Chest Foundation, please contact Colleen Kisel at 708-687-TOYS (8697) or visit the Foundation’s web site at www.treasurechest.org.
