One year ago we heard the news: After being declared NED just months before, Harper’s cancer had relapsed. For us, this blow was possibly more devastating than the original diagnosis. For Harper, it meant she got to see more of her nurse, which she was glad about. Amazingly to us, Harper walked out of that appointment with a smile on her face.
“There is something about everything that you can be glad about, if you keep hunting long enough to find it.” ~ Pollyanna
There have been many times since then when we have struggled to find something to be glad about. Other times, it has been easier to feel the love and joy around us and so we continued to move forward. In March we shaved, raised money, and made new friends who helped celebrate Harper’s life and the promise of research to benefit others. In April we founded the Hope from Harper charity, bringing Harper’s legacy to life in exciting new ways. Most recently we announced the creation of the St. Baldrick’s Hope from Harper Hero Fund. Today, we have the great pleasure to announce one way it all ties together.
Thanks to your generous donations and support the Hope from Harper St. Baldrick’s Scholar Grant has been established. This year, this grant funds research at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, headed by Dr. Daniel Lee. Because of the Hope From Harper Hero Fund, Dr. Lee will be able to continue to research an exciting new option for pediatric cancer therapy. Dr. Lee’s research is laying the groundwork for several clinical trials to be initiated studying breakthrough immunotherapy. This therapy approach has the potential to radically change the way we treat many childhood cancers. Because of work like Dr. Lee’s, immune cells can now be engineered to recognize and kill cancer cells and then administered to patients. Dr. Lee’s project is one of the first to bring this promising therapy to children with cancer. You can read about Dr. Lee's grant here.
As we’ve said before, we believe this is just the beginning. Hope from Harper is dedicated to funding lifesaving pediatric cancer research and improving the care of patients and their families. In the future we look forward to announcing more details on how we plan to continue to spread Harper’s joy - helping patients and families to find something to be glad about, even on those many days when being glad is the last thing on their minds.
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