Who We Help

We try to make patients siblings and parents/caregivers smile as often as we possibly can. Our families find comfort in our in and out of hospital programs. There is also the benefit of having the opportunity to connect with other families without the commitment of maintaining relationships. Without having this experience, it is almost impossible to comprehend the tragedy of of diagnosis and treatment.

“I have never felt more alone and isolated, please help me.”
-- A Dragonfly mom

 "I just needed to hear someone breathe on the other end of the line."
-- A Dragonfly mom

You are Not Alone

We maintain open lines of communication with our Dragonfly Families. Information shared during phone calls, emails, texts, events and postings on our our website or on Facebook help us understand when a patient, sibling or caregiver is under severe emotional, psychological or physical distress. In addition, privacy releases signed by the family allow hospital staff to notify our organization when they identify a need. These relationships allows us to act quickly to provide toys, games, movies, gift cards, event tickets or other distractions at times that mean the most.

 

ELIGIBILTY: FROM BIRTH TO AGE 30... Or Until the patient is 5-years free of their disease

The Dragonfly Foundation serves young patients with cancer. We also support patients whose blood disease will require a bone marrow transplant. In addition, we provide indirect support to blood disease patients through the Hematology Department of Cincinnati Children's Hospital.

Unlike many other organizations, we provide support patients from birth to age 30, until they have been five years free of their disease. (If the patient joins Dragonfly at the end of their 5 years or at the age of 30, he/she and their family will remain a Dragonfly for one year from the date of registration.*)

  • Example 1: If a newly diagnosed 7-year-old patient requiring three years of treatment would remain a Dragonfly until they are 15 years old, assuming they had no evidence of disease for 5 years following treatment. (Age 7 + 3 years of treatment + 5 years until “clean” = 15 years old)
  • Example 2: If a 30-year-old newly diagnosed patient becomes a Dragonfly, they would remain a Dragonfly for 1 year from their registration date. (Age 31)

When registering patients as Dragonflies, we also register their siblings and caregivers. We try to make the entire family smile, as often as we possibly can.

*All patients are referred by social workers from Cincinnati Children's Hospital's Cancer & Blood Diseases Institute.

The Entire Family Experiences Trauma

A Dragonfly Family has at least one child or young adult (up to age 30) who is or has been treated at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center’s Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute (CBDI). If the patients are parents themselves, we include their offspring.

Patients, siblings and parents/caregivers experience isolation, loneliness, fear and anxiety related to the diagnosis and the physical, emotional, and financial costs of treatment. While only one person receives treatment all are affected.  That’s why we want the patient and their immediate family to benefit from our C.A.R.E. (Caring, Community and Awareness that Results in Emotional health).