AFLAC gift brightens experience for pediatric cancer patients

Left to right: Nancy Degante, Jiselle Reyna and Mauricio Enriquez.

Amid the tricks of Halloween came a big treat for pediatric cancer patients and families at The Nebraska Medical Center. AFLAC presented the hospital with a $45,000 gift to help kids and their families get through a truly scary time in their lives.

Officials recognized AFLAC and its gift during a Halloween celebration Oct. 21 at The Nebraska Medical Center. The event brought together more than 100 pediatric cancer patients, their families and representatives from the hospital’s section of pediatric hematology/oncology and bone marrow transplantation, the University of Nebraska Foundation and AFLAC’s Atlanta-based headquarters and Omaha office.

The AFLAC Fund for Childhood Cancer Patients and Families, established through the company’s gift to the University of Nebraska Foundation, will support the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Multidisciplinary Team, a vital component of the transplantation experience for young patients and their families, said Peter F. Coccia, M.D., Ittner professor of pediatrics, chief, pediatric hematology/oncology, UNMC.

Cameron Miller with his dad, Jim.

“The involvement of this highly dedicated group of health care, educational support, social work and child life professionals is very important to the overall care and well-being of children and their families during the transplantation process,” he said. “The AFLAC gift will enhance the team members’ efforts in supporting these families and provide the necessary resources to fulfill many of the wishes expressed by our patients. We are most grateful to AFLAC for its generosity.”

The multidisciplinary team includes nurses, a social worker, a physician’s assistant, educational support staff, child life specialists, a dietician, a psychologist and a teacher, all of whom attend weekly team meetings to assess patient needs. An occupational therapist, physical therapist, pharmacist and/or physician also provide guidance when necessary. The team members meet with each patient at diagnosis and continue interactions during an inpatient hospital stay and on an outpatient basis as needed.

Members of the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Multidisciplinary Team.

Funding provided by the AFLAC gift will further enable the multidisciplinary team to focus on the psychosocial needs of pediatric patients and their entire families, said Sue Nuss, clinical nurse specialist, hematology/oncology and bone marrow transplantation, The Nebraska Medical Center, and a member of the team.

“When a child is diagnosed with a life threatening illness, we immediately focus on the medical needs of that child,” she said. “The concerns that arise from a cancer diagnosis reach beyond the medical realm. Cancer is often described as a family disease because it affects the entire family.”

Through the AFLAC fund team members will have resources to provide an accelerated reading program, an expanded library collection, additional televisions, laptops and VCRs, more supplies for memory books created during patients’ stay, furniture and support for social activities such as birthday and holiday parties.

Blake and Theresa Bench with their children, Seth (standing) and Sammy.

For AFLAC, this gift continues its long-term commitment to children with cancer. “AFLAC has made pediatric cancer our national philanthropy, and we are excited about expanding our reach into Omaha,” said Kathelen Spencer, AFLAC executive vice president, director of corporate communications. “This is just the beginning of what we hope will be a long lasting relationship between AFLAC and The Nebraska Medical Center.”