A new program within the Cancer Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) will support caregivers to safely and comfortably manage their child’s leukemia. It’s called Backpacks With Barbara, a first-of-its-kind initiative that will provide 300 custom-designed, kid-friendly and medically safe backpacks to patients at CHOP undergoing blinatumomab therapy, a cutting-edge immunotherapy used to treat B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
“This new, cutting-edge therapy that increased pediatric leukemia cure rates by 9% requires a 28-day continuous infusion,” said Dr. Susan Rheingold, attending physician with the Cancer Center at CHOP. “These adorable backpacks, generously supported by the Madelyn James Pediatric Cancer Foundation can be worn by children of all ages. The backpacks contain the pump, tubing and medication, so families can safely and comfortably manage their child’s treatment both at home and on the go. What makes them all that more special is that the backpacks are also a tribute to the late Dr. Barbara Friedes, a passionate advocate for equity in pediatric medicine.”
Thanks to volunteers at Philadelphia Insurance Companies, these backpacks are ready just in time for back-to-school.
Learn more in these CBS3 and 6abc stories as well as this Philadelphia Inquirer article.
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A new program within the Cancer Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) will support caregivers to safely and comfortably manage their child’s leukemia. It’s called Backpacks With Barbara, a first-of-its-kind initiative that will provide 300 custom-designed, kid-friendly and medically safe backpacks to patients at CHOP undergoing blinatumomab therapy, a cutting-edge immunotherapy used to treat B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
“This new, cutting-edge therapy that increased pediatric leukemia cure rates by 9% requires a 28-day continuous infusion,” said Dr. Susan Rheingold, attending physician with the Cancer Center at CHOP. “These adorable backpacks, generously supported by the Madelyn James Pediatric Cancer Foundation can be worn by children of all ages. The backpacks contain the pump, tubing and medication, so families can safely and comfortably manage their child’s treatment both at home and on the go. What makes them all that more special is that the backpacks are also a tribute to the late Dr. Barbara Friedes, a passionate advocate for equity in pediatric medicine.”
Thanks to volunteers at Philadelphia Insurance Companies, these backpacks are ready just in time for back-to-school.
Learn more in these CBS3 and 6abc stories as well as this Philadelphia Inquirer article.
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Jennifer Lee
Cancer Center