Help and Hope Happen Here

Hosted by Mark Levine

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Episodes

548

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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About the show

This Podcast is going to be about Pediatric Cancer and the need to keep the awareness of this terrible disease in the public eye. My plan is to be able to interview a wide spectrum of people who all have a passion and a stake in finding a way to make the lives of these Pediatric Cancer Patients easier. I will interview oncologists, nurses, recovered patients, parents who have had to oversee their children's cancer fight, heads of Pediatric Cancer Foundations and Organizations , and others who would like to use this forum to advocate for these children.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 15, 2026Episode 5501 hr 1 min

Maribeth Ditmars will talk about her son Christopher who battled Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia before his passing when he was 14 in 2001, successfully battling her own demons, and the loss of her other son Jarrod in July of 2015

Maribeth Ditmars has suffered plenty of heartache and loss for the past 25 years, beginning with the diagnosis of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in 1997 and the subsequent passing of her son Christopher at the age of 14 in 2001. This was followed by the passing of her younger son Jarrod when he was 21 years old from an accident on July 4th of 2015, which left him unconscious for the last 4 days of his life. In between those years, Maribeth successfully battled her own demons with her dependence on alcohol, to the point where she has been able to counsel many people who have had similar problems and she is now very involved in helping others. Maribeth has now been sober for 22 years .

June 11, 2026Episode 54958 min

Alisha Harper will talk about her son Chase who was diagnosed with Down Syndrome officially when he was born and 4 years later was diagnosed with Leukemia. Chase is going strong as he is now 9 years old

During Alisha Harper's pregnancy, she was told that there was a 60 percent chance that her son would be born with Down Syndrome. That statement turned out to be a correct one as Chase was born in December of 2016 with this illness and by the time Chase was 4 years old, Alisha saw that his Down Syndrome was manageable. One month after feeling as good as possible about how Chase was doing, he developed a body rash which turned out to be a symptom of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Despite having this 1-2 punch thrown at him, Chase is doing well as he is now 9 years old and living his best life possible.

June 8, 2026Episode 54848 min

Kayla and Charli Martin will talk about Charli's diagnosis of High Risk B Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia when she was 10 years old and in 5th grade in 2023. Charli is now doing well as she has just completed her 8th grade year.

10 year old Charli Martin hurt her shoulder while competing in the New York State School Wrestling Tournament when she was in 5th grade in 2023. While going for Physical Therapy, Charli noticed a lump on her neck and after taking antibiotics and still in therapy, the pain in her shoulder did not go away. Charli then had this lump biopsied and the result was her diagnosis of High Risk B Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Charli has now completed her 8th grade year and at 13 years of age is back playing sports and living the life of a normal and healthy 13 year old teenager.

June 4, 2026Episode 5471 hr 4 min

Gwen Mysiak became the Executive Director of the Punt Pediatric Cancer Collaborative in 2012. This Collaborative was started by former Buffalo Bills Punter Brian Moorman and his wife Amber in 2004 and focuses on 6 major programs.

Gwen Mysiak worked in the field of Public Broadcasting for 19 years in Buffalo and during that time, her friend's cousin Andrew Pawlak was 13 years old and in 7th grade when he was diagnosed with a form of Pediatric Cancer and passed away 2 years later. Not too much time went by after that before Gwen switched carriers to become the Punt Pediatric Cancer Collaborative's Executive Director in 2012. This Collaborative focuses on 6 major programs to help families deal with a Pediatric Cancer situation, with a special emphasis on their bereavement program.

June 1, 2026Episode 54652 min

Carla and Sydney Belsher will talk about Sydney's battle with Infantile Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia which she was diagnosed with in April of 2014 when she was 6 months old and how she is doing now at the age of 12 1/2.

Sydney Belsher has been through a great deal in her still very young life as she is 12 1/2 years old, which started with stomach issues almost from her birth in the fall of 2013, and then her diagnosis of Infantile Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia which came when she was 6 months old in April of 2014. Right after her diagnosis Sydney's lifespan was very uncertain as her doctors feared she would have a stroke and may not survive. This did not happen thankfully but Sydney has battled both physical and mental issues over the years . Fortunately Sydney has survived all of her issues and is trying to live her best life possible.

May 28, 2026Episode 5451 hr 3 min

Heather and Casey Arrayan will talk about their daughter Kalia who was diagnosed with High Risk B Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in November of 2023 and her recovery is now going well after her Bone Marrow Transplant in July of 2024.

When she was 4 months old on November 14th of 2023, Kalia Arrayan was diagnosed with High Risk B Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. This diagnosis came as a complete shock to her parents Heather and Casey who did not see any clear symptoms before a routine checkup showed a lump on her spleen. Kalia went through a very difficult treatment process for the next 8 months before she underwent a Bone Marrow Transplant with her 11 year old brother being her donor. Kalia has been doing much better over the past nearly two years as she approaches her 3rd birthday.

May 25, 2026Episode 54436 min

Dale and Marissa Metcalf will talk about Marissa's successful fight with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia when she was 3 1/2 years old in 2010 and her goal to become a Pediatric Cancer Oncology Nurse

Marissa Metcalf does not remember many details from her treatment during her battle with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia which took place in 2010 when she was 3 1/2 years old. What she does know, now that she is 19 years old and looking at possible careers, is that this form of Pediatric Blood cancer has affected her in different ways as she approaches 20 years of age, and wants to help others who have been diagnosed with cancer by becoming an Oncology Nurse, which would be a great accomplishment for her and a good thing for her future patients.

May 21, 2026Episode 54358 min

Lily McGrath will talk about her son Bryson who had a very difficult path to navigate during his 1027 day fight with Neuroblastoma that began in early 2023 and ended with his passing on September 26th of 2025 when he was 5 years old.

Lily and Sebastian McGrath's 2 1/2 year old son Bryson was first thought to have a Wilms Tumor before his Pediatric Cancer diagnosis was changed to Stage 4 Neuroblastoma in the early days of 2023. Lily and Sebastian had to put up with a number of more than questionable medical decisions during Bryson's fight and also had to endure the final days of Bryson's life who while in Hospice Care, was promised 24 hour round the clock availability should they be needed and when they were needed the most, they were nowhere to be found. Lily also had to watch after Bryson passed away while one of the Hospice nurses attempted to rip off all of Bryson's dressings, instead of treating her son with the kid gloves that he more than deserved.

May 18, 2026Episode 54251 min

Cherie Calbom is a well known Nutritionist who will talk about the negative health effects that Seed Oils can have on consumers and the link that exists between these Oils and Pediatric, Adolescent and Young Adult, and Adult Cancer.

Cherie Colbom is not only an expert Nutritionist, she has written 35 books, including her Juicing For life which has sold 2 million copies and her current book which became available on April 28th entitled The Truth About Seed Oils. Cherie will talk about how Seed Oils can have negative health effects for consumers and will discuss the link between Seed Oils and Pediatric, Adolescent and Young Adult, and Adult Cancer. Cheire has been on television many times discussing this issue and has also written many articles on this subject.

May 14, 2026Episode 54153 min

Lauren and TJ Bailey will talk about their son Brody who was born with a Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia in early 2023 and then just after his first birthday he was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma.

Brody Bailey is one of possibly two children in the World who have been born with a Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia and then diagnosed with Neuroblastoma. Lauren and TJ Bailey are Brody's parents and will talk about his journey with the good news being that he is more than 3 years old and is doing as well as possible health wise. The Bailey family has received great support from their Township of Deptford New Jersey community, especially from Rich Nardiello who is the head of the great Pop Pop Custom Cars Non-Profit and a wonderful advocate for the cause of Pediatric Cancer.