Lisa Scherber sits down with Joe Weil and Joe Castiglione to discuss the 2024 the Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon. She also shares the different ways in which the Jimmy Fund is working to help children battling cancer. 

Porter discusses the Jimmy Fund and what it means to him, and the city of Boston being a selling point for free agents. Boston is a hungry soccer city, time to build the Revs a new stadium!

·       During the summer in 2022, Emelie was swimming with her siblings, Olivia and Liam. When they came inside for lunch, Emelie screamed and cried from pain. Her family took her to the local emergency room where it was confirmed she had masses on her kidneys. The family went to Boston where Emelie was diagnosed with Bilateral Wilms Tumors, a form of kidney cancer. Within 24 hours, Emelie had a port put in and began her first round of chemotherapy.
·       Starting August 2022, Emelie underwent 12 weeks of chemotherapy to shrink the tumors on her kidneys, leaving her with half of her right kidney and two-thirds of her left. Emelie’s last round of chemotherapy was in February 2023. She visited the Jimmy Fund Clinic on a monthly basis for blood work, and prescription renewal until end of May 2023, when she graduated to quarterly visits and scans.
·       Emelie enjoys swimming, playing with her brother and sister, and all kinds of crafts. This past summer, Emelie was a patient partner with Homegoods and HomeSense and designed artwork for their annual bag campaign to raise money for the Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber. Her bag designs included an underwater scene with fish and turtles, and a panda bear eating a watermelon. Emelie is going to enter second grade in the fall.

·       When Leilani was 4 months old, they noticed a lump in her neck. Her pediatrician ordered an x-ray, which revealed several tumors, including in her chest.
·       Her treatment has included chemotherapy as well as surgery to remove tumors.
·       Her family is enjoying a treatment-free summer ahead of her upcoming scans in September. They are hoping to be cancer-free for the first time.
·       Leilani remains vibrant and happy; despite everything she has been through. 
·       Leilani’s parents are both former military helicopter pilots (Chris, for the Marine Corps and Liz, for the Navy).

       Mason was experiencing back pain that continued for three months. Then one day, Mason couldn’t walk or get out of his bed. His family took him to the hospital where he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in March of this year.
·       Mason’s treatments have been tough, and they’re expected to last for two years as he continues to need many procedures and chemotherapy.
·       Mason loves baseball, golf, and swimming. He is in pre-K.

Calista had aches and pains in her legs, lower back, and shoulder. In July 2023, she developed a fever which continued for a week, accompanied by fatigue, severe lower back and stomach pain and difficulty lifting her arms. She had lab work done to rule out viruses and infections. Her family took Calista to the emergency room where lab work confirmed acute lymphoblastic leukemia in July of last year.
·       Calista began chemotherapy treatment. During one cycle in October 2023, she was “off,” and her family reported this to her team. Doctors discovered a blood clot in her brain due to a rare side effect from one of her chemotherapies. Calista is still in treatment and undergoes chemotherapy, a lumbar puncture every nine weeks, and medications. She is expected to finish her treatment in August/September 2025.
·       Calista is a huge hockey fan and used to be a goalie. She hopes to return to the ice soon. She loves to craft, cook, swim, go to the beach, and spend time with her three dogs: Charlie, Cocoa, and Cleo.

Max was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2014. His doctors
thought he was having recurrent ear infections and then they noticed his stomach had become distended. His pediatrician suggested blood work, which revealed leukemia.

· His treatment included chemotherapy, and he is slated to complete treatment in
September.
· Max enjoys lacrosse, soccer, video games, skiing and sailing, and he’s looking
forward to starting seventh grade.
The family thinks the Jimmy Fund Clinic is filled with especially caring doctors,
nurses and staff who always do their best to ensure that families are safe and
comfortable.

Sarah Laffey, 27, neuroblastoma, Charlestown
·       In 2015, Sarah’s right eye swelled shut and she went to the hospital in Colorado, where she was living at the time. She was having lower back pain as well so the doctors did a CT scan, which revealed neuroblastoma.
·       Her treatment has included chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation. She has had several remissions and relapses and is currently in active treatment.
·       Sarah is singing the national anthem before tonight’s game.
·       Sarah is a huge Red Sox fan. She also loves the Patriots, baking, and playing video games. She works as a caterer.

Nick Pivetta speaks on how much the Jimmy Fund means to the Red Sox players and staff, and more!

  Kristen Van de Geer was living in Alaska, where her husband was stationed in the Coast Guard, and was experiencing stomach pains. As a teenager, she was diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome or IBS, but with a family history of colon cancer and her mother’s passing in 2017 from gallbladder cancer, she wanted to be sure that nothing else was wrong. For 5 years, she was given different reasons for her stomach pains but never referred for the colonoscopy.  Eventually, Kristin got her gallbladder removed. 
·       In 2022 a doctor agreed to perform a colonoscopy too. A single “wonky polyp” was discovered which led to a rectal cancer diagnosis in early 2023. 
·       Now living in Massachusetts, Kristen followed a chemotherapy treatment plan and had two surgeries: one to remove the polyp and one for a resection. Kristen’s focus on seeking and embracing joy during treatment helped her through the most difficult times. She is grateful for the unwavering support of her husband, her sisters, and extended friends and family who showed up for her - and still show up - in the most beautiful ways.
·       For the past 8 months, she has been out of treatment and feeling better. Kristen’s diagnosis encouraged her three sisters to seek screenings as well. One sister was able to catch an advanced polyp that doctors estimated was within months of turning cancerous. Through genetic testing, which her sister Juliette received first, it was discovered that three of them have a genetic mutation that makes them more likely to be diagnosed with colon cancer. Kristen feels grateful for the genetic testing options provided at Dana-Farber, both to her and her sisters. 
Kristen loves crocheting stuffed animals, like highland cows and mermaids and advocates for screening awareness to anyone who will listen 

Sponsor Find Mass Money.gov's representative Deb Goldberg states how much the Jimmy Fund means to her and her collogues.