The Inn Reflects on World Cancer Day 2025
The Children’s Inn at NIH joins the global community to recognize World Cancer Day this Tuesday, February 4. Last year, nearly 15,000 children were diagnosed with cancer in the United States alone. Despite significant treatment advances, cancer continues to be the leading cause of death by disease for children in the United States (National Cancer Institute).
But there is hope, and here at The Children’s Inn, we strive to provide relief and support to the children, teenagers, young adults, and families who participate in clinical research studies at the National Institutes of Health.
Recently, The Inn provided “A Place Like Home” to siblings Lucy and Landon, who came to NIH from their home in North Carolina to pursue treatment for Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) at the National Cancer Institute. Both Lucy (7) and Landon (12) suffered from a form of the disorder that allows patients to survive beyond infancy and sometimes into adulthood, but still carries with it the risk of severe infections and abnormal immune system activation.
Fortunately for both Lucy and Landon, the SCID had been detected relatively early, and it was determined that a successful bone marrow transplant would allow them to leave the disorder behind. Another sibling, 15-year-old Levi, was determined to be a transplant match for Lucy, while a first cousin served as the donor for Landon.
After their springtime transplants, Lucy and Landon began to explore the opportunities available to them at The Inn. Lucy adored the programming team and especially enjoyed the arts and crafts activities they regularly performed. She also became very fond of Zilly, The Inn’s therapy dog. Missing the wide open spaces around home, Landon made the best of his surroundings by using The Inn’s bikes to speed around the playground and parking lot. Both of them also spend a lot of time in the game room, where they play pool. After their procedures, they both got RC cars, which could be seen zipping around the indoor and outdoor spaces at The Inn.
By the fall of 2024, Lucy and Landon were cleared to return home to North Carolina, where they would be able to return to school and resume their regular lives. Their doctors at NCI are happy with how their recoveries have progressed, and will continue to monitor them annually. When they return to NIH, they know that The Inn will be there for them as they make their way forward.
On World Cancer Day, and every day, your support gives the gift of hope to children like Lucy and Landon. Together, we can change medical history one child at a time.
