Tonight's picture was taken on December 20, 2003. Mattie was a year and half old and headed to Los Angeles to celebrate Christmas. It was five hours of non-stop entertainment for us as Mattie was very excited to be traveling and napping never happened. Fortunately I always traveled with a bag of tricks. I remember the flight attendant was very nice and she went up to first class to get Mattie strawberries. Thinking he'd eat them. Mattie wasn't a fruit fellow, but I can say I enjoyed the strawberries.
Quote of the day: Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you would have rather talked. ~ Mark Twain
I would say about two years ago, I was contacted by the Cancer Action Coalition of Virginia (CACV). CACV focuses on the prevention, early detection, treatment, advocacy, research, and evaluation of cancer in the Commonwealth
of Virginia. They are responsible for developing the State's Cancer plan. The Plan is a framework that presents priority objectives, goals and strategies to reduce cancer risk, eliminate preventable cancers and minimize cancer deaths and disabilities. It provides guidance for designing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating cancer-related actions and addressing a myriad of issues. The plan provides direction to better understand and reduce cancer disparities through research, education and clinical practice. Members of the public, people with cancer and their families, healthcare providers, policymakers, and healthcare experts all will benefit from the guidance the plan offers.
The reason I was contacted was for two reasons. The old Virginia State Cancer Plan was missing two things. First there was no mention to childhood cancer, as the Plan was all about adult cancer and though one would think cancer is cancer, it is different in children and therefore has to be supported differently. The second issue was there was no mention of psychosocial care. Guess what?
Two years later both are being addressed! Not just addressed, but there is a whole chapter (starting on page 45) dedicated to childhood cancer and YES the Psychosocial Standards are mentioned. Check out p.48....... the goal by 2022, is that all pediatric cancer treatment centers in Virginia commit to meeting the Psychosocial Standards of Care!
I have been working closely with Amy Godkin, the executive director of the ASK Foundation. We talk periodically and I shared the Standards with Amy and have been explaining their purpose and how they can be used. She has been a real advocate for the Standards in Virginia and what this shows me is that when advocates work together, and are passionate and committed, we can change the system!
Virginia State Cancer Plan (Standards mentioned on p.48)
http://cancercoalitionofvirginia.org/PDFs/About/6655-VA-cancer-plan_2018_2022.pdf
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