One of our favorite things about the Hope Fights Childhood Cancer Campaign is hearing about the optimism and promise that Dr. Schiffman’s research is bringing to children and families everywhere. Our Story of Hope highlight comes from Kirsten Flores – mom of two boys, first-grade teacher and a patient of Dr. Schiffman’s, living with Li-Fraumeni Syndrome. Read on to learn about Kirsten’s story and see how just a little bit of hope can make all the difference.

 

Thank you for supporting the Hope Fights Childhood Cancer Campaign. A campaign that means the world to me.
My name is Kirsten Flores. I am a first-grade teacher and mom to two boys-one of whom is a cancer survivor. I am a patient of Dr. Schiffman’s, living with Li-Fraumeni Syndrome, (Li Fraumeni Syndrome, or LFS, means I have one cancer fighting gene whereas most people have two) and I am filled with hope.
On April 1, 2016 my then two-year-old son, Xander, was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of muscle cancer. Nothing can prepare you for hearing the words “your son has cancer,” especially when the bump they were removing was thought to be “just a cyst”. Not the ideal way we were hoping to spend spring break. I must have cried for days, but only in my room, bathroom, or alone in my car. I had to be brave and fight with and for my son.
A few surgeries, genetic testing, and 10 out of 20 rounds of chemotherapy later, we were feeling pretty optimistic about Xander’s progress and reaction to treatment-after all, he had hardly lost any hair! Then we got a phone call, “do you have time to talk?” My stomach sank. I knew in an instant that what was coming was not what I wanted to hear…”Xander has LFS…you have LFS…Ernesto (my other son) has LFS”. Three out of four members of my family have Li Fraumeni Syndrome, which comes with a gut wrenching, ever looming, sickeningly high chance of developing cancer or multiple cancers in our lifetime. To say I took this diagnosis hard would be an understatement. I was shocked…besides Xander, I had never really known anyone with cancer. How could this have happened? Why me? Needless to say, I was hopeless about our future as a family until I met, worked, and continue to work with incredible doctors and a team of people who bring me out of despair and into hope. People like Dr. Schiffman…who put my mind at ease the minute after hearing about his research with elephants and learning how to stay proactive. (I will never move, and I have told Dr. Schiffman that he is not allowed to either.)
I don’t talk much about our family’s diagnosis. It’s not something I bring up in casual conversation. In fact, outside of close family members and friends, hardly anyone knows about it. However, ask anyone I know, and they will tell you of my admiration and support of Dr. Schiffman and his research.

Not only has my house and the homes of my family members become elephant shrines, my dad buys out several Kneaders

locations of elephant shaped sugar cookies every year. I also get to introduce Dr. Schiffman’s work to everyone I meet, including musicians who rock the Kneaders Hope Fights Childhood Cancer elephant tie on stage. And every time I look at my children, I have a perfect reminder of hope that inspires me every day.
Hope that one day I won’t have to worry… is my son’s cough just a cough or is it cancer? Hope that tests, screenings, and scans won’t forever schedule our lives. Hope that my kids will grow up to fulfill all their dreams and aspirations, and hope that no mom will ever again have to hear the words “your child has cancer”.
Dr. Schiffman’s elephant-inspired research, along with others who are making strides in the fight against childhood cancer, are pioneers in finding solutions for this disease. Dr. Schiffman and Kneaders, you have our support. Thank you for making a BIG difference with a little HOPE.

 

Kirsten’s story is heartbreaking, beautiful, hopeful and unique. Unfortunately, childhood cancer is not unique or rare. 16,000 children are diagnosed with cancer in the United States every year. But with your help, we can join together to pave the way to new research, better treatments, and ultimately a world without childhood cancer. When you buy elephant sugar cookies at any of our 59 Kneaders locations, now through October 3, 2018, 100% of the sales benefit childhood cancer research! Click here to learn about other ways you can join the cause and why elephants may hold the key to unlocking new answers in cancer research.