Chemotherapy works by killing rapidly dividing cells, including cancer cells. But chemotherapy cannot tell the difference between cancer cells and normal cells, such as hair follicles, thus causing patients hair to fall out. That is where cold cap therapy comes in.

The emotional and financial strain facing the families of children with any significant illness walking through the doors of HSHS St. Vincent Children’s Hospital is immense. From transportation needs to food insecurity to the implications for parents missing work for their child’s care, the burden is immense and often insurmountable.

These Compassionate Care programs would focus on providing compassion and comfort during what is an incredibly challenging time in their lives, components could include:

• Gas/Gift Cards

• Fund

• Cafeteria Vouchers

• Walmart Gift Cards

In addition to the physical and emotional implication of a cancer diagnosis, the financial impact can also be overwhelming. Many patients experience lost income as a result of missing work for treatments and hospitalizations. In addition, prescribed treatments (such as oral chemotherapy and support medications) are very expensive.

Patients typically face thousands of dollars in medication costs each month.