Girl Scout troop brings Easter Baskets for UF&Shands pediatric cancer patients

April 5, 2012

What:
The scouts of Girl Scout Troop No. 519 will deliver Easter basket creations they prepared themselves for children who are cancer patients at Shands at the University of Florida. Scouts spent their spring break planning and assembling the Easter baskets, and will bring the baskets to Shands today for the pediatric oncology social worker to deliver to children who can’t be at home for Peter Cottontail’s special visit.

Why:
The pediatric hematology/oncology inpatient unit serves as many as 18 pediatric patients at any given time. Many of these special patients are receiving treatment for leukemia, the most prevalent childhood cancer, representing about 30 percent of all childhood cancers. Others are being treated for brain and spinal cord tumors, the second most common form of childhood cancer. Though both types of childhood cancer respond well to treatment and have a high rate of survival, pediatric patients frequently must stay in the hospital for weeks, sometimes months, during their treatments and are not able to participate in normal, childhood activities associated with holidays.

When:
1 p.m., Thursday, April 5

Where:
The Shands at UF Atrium, 1600 SW Archer Road

Contact:
To arrange a media escort, email Lindy Brounley at brounley@ufl.edu or call 352-273-8013.