ThinkAgain Kids - Children Succeding after Cancer-Brain Tumors (2022-2023, 2021-2022)
Foundation ThinkAgain! is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides rehabilitation therapies to children severely affected by cancer and brain tumors. Because of modern medicine, over 80% of children diagnosed with cancer under the age of 15 will survive their disease. The success rate however, often comes with a substantial cost to the cognitive, sensory, motor and academic functioning of many of our survivors. Central nervous system-directed chemotherapy, radiation to a developing brain, and surgical navigation through sensitive brain areas to remove tumors, are just some of the invasive, but necessary treatments used to achieve a cure. These late effects or injuries to the brain, especially a brain in early development, may result in disorders in visual and perceptual processing, receptive and expressive language, fine and gross motor skills, vision and eye tracking, attention and memory.
Funding for costly, yet needed rehabilitation therapies, to address the disabilities is often denied by the child's medical insurance or is insufficiently covered. These children are not only fighting to survive, they are fighting to thrive and succeed in their lives after cancer. The therapies could mean a difference between success and failure; whether a child will walk across the stage at graduation or be wheel-chair bound into adulthood; whether a child will eat solid foods or be bound to a feeding tube; whether a child will read successfully with comprehension or continue to lag years behind their same-aged peers.
Foundation ThinkAgain! helps children overcome their disabilities, and reach goals they never thought possible. Our goal is for these children to grow up to be physically and cognitively capable, confident, successful and employable adults.
Contact: Patricia M. Kerrigan, PhD Foundation ThinkAgain, President
Email: pattykerriganphd@gmail.com
Website: www.thinkagain.org/
