Making cancer less stressful for young patients and families

A fever on Easter was the first sign 7-year-old Eduardo (Eddy) Zapata was not himself. When the fever didn’t go away, his mother, Jessica Gutierrez, took him to the doctor. By that time Eddy was beginning to have pain in his lower back and knees. He also was losing weight. Still, the doctor thought it could be a virus.

When Eddy began struggling to get out of bed, his mother refused to wait any longer. In the middle of the night, she took him to the Emergency Department at UC Davis Medical Center. Blood tests revealed a suspicion that was confirmed by a bone marrow biopsy — Eddy had B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Help and support on the way

Chemotherapy started immediately, and Eddy remained hospitalized for weeks. In the middle of it all, an “angel” showed up — a family navigator with Keaton’s Child Cancer Alliance.

“Keaton’s became part of our family,” said Eddy’s mom, Jessica “I feared for my son’s life, but I also was concerned about the impact Eddy’s cancer would have on his brother and sister.”

Gutierrez was keenly aware of how Eddy’s siblings could be affected. She was a teenager when her own sister was diagnosed with leukemia.

“I felt neglected and lonely as my sister went through cancer treatment,” Gutierrez said. “I didn’t want my children to go through that, too.”

Keaton’s makes sure no family fights alone

“There’s enough stress when your child is diagnosed with cancer,” said Chief of Pediatric Oncology Marcio Malogolowkin. “At UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, we want our pediatric patient families to focus on healing. That’s why we refer them to Keaton’s, an amazing resource for helping them get through the cancer journey.”

Keaton’s provides direct financial support to families, assisting with basic needs such as housing bills, utilities, transportation, groceries and other essential expenses. This support enables parents and guardians to focus on their child’s health and well-being without the added stress of financial burdens. If patients are not eating well in the hospital, Keaton’s family navigators deliver culturally familiar, nutritionally appropriate food to them.

“We have a family-centric model,” said Jessica Alonso, executive director of Keaton’s. “Along with supporting the child going through cancer, we make sure siblings and parents are supported, too.”

While Eddy was in the hospital, Keaton’s delivered “Hope Chests” filled with customized items for him as well as for his siblings. Each contained comfort items, snuggle blankets, colors and toys chosen with each child in mind.

Within a month of his diagnosis, Eddy and his brother and sister were enjoying a day at Funderland Amusement Park in Sacramento, thanks to Keaton’s.

“We want children to have joy-filled experiences, making new friends, creating new memories and connecting with other kids going through cancer,” said Alonso.

“They make me so much happier,” Eddy said about Keaton’s.

New family wellness center provides care and sense of community

Recently Keaton’s opened an expanded center in Roseville where pediatric patients and siblings engage in healing through art and play therapy. The welcoming space features vibrant and soothing colors, creative toys and musical instruments designed to support emotional well-being. A teen recreation corner focuses on adolescent patients and siblings.

For parents, Keaton’s hosts “Muffins with Moms” and “Donuts with Dads” get-togethers at the center to help parents meet other parents of kids with cancer.

Become involved

If you would like to contribute financial support, toys, blankets and other items to Keaton’s Hope Chests, please go to https://childcancer.org/donate/. Volunteers are always needed, too.