9-year-old cancer survivor now supporting his hospital mentors

Sammy Strong Foundation raises money for Child Life Specialists

Sammy Strong Foundation raises money for Child Life Specialists

CAUSE BEHIND IT ALL RNERSUN CROSSING THE FINISH LINE KIDS SWINGING THEIR BATS FOR A HOME RUNLL A FOR ONE GOOD CAUSE THE HOME RUN DERBY IS SAM FOR THIS FAMILY. THEIR WORLD WAS PUT ON PAUSE WHEN THEY’RE NINE YEAR OLD SON. SAMMY WAS DIAGNOSED WITH BRAIN CANCER THE PTAS YEAR FILLED WITH FEAR TEARS AND SURGERY WHEN YOU TOLD YOUR NINE YEAR OLD IS SICK. AND THERE’S NOTHING YOU CAN DO. RELY ON OTHERS TO LEAD YOU IN THE DIRECTION THAT YOU NEED. THAT SUPPORT IS WHAT LED TO THE SAMMY STRONG FOUNDATION. WE STARTED THIS FOUNDATION. IN OUR BEST EFFORT TO GEIV BACK TO OTHER KIDS AND FAMILIES WHO ARE FIGHTING PEDIATRIC BRAIN CANCER USING SAMMY’S LOVE OF BASEBALL THE FOUNDATION HDEL ITS FIRST ANNUAL EVENT TO GIVE BACK A HOME RUN DERBY AND 5K SAMMY STRONG CROSS HITS FINISH LINE WITH BRAIN CANCER, AND IT’S NOW HOPING TO HIT A HOME RUN FOR OTHER FAMILIES AND WITH EACH EVENT. THEY WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR OTHERS ONE EVENT AT A TIME ONE YEAR AT A TIME ONE FAMILY AT A TIME. PAY THAT FORWARD IS WHAT WE WANT TO DO. SAMMY WANTS OTHERS GOING THROUGH CANCER TO KNOW TYHE AREN’T ALONE AND THEY SHOULD KEEP FIGHTING. JUST LIKE HE DID.

9-year-old cancer survivor now supporting his hospital mentors

Sammy Strong Foundation raises money for Child Life Specialists

On a hot summer day, you can find Sammy Strawn playing baseball with his friends. He especially loves playing pickle, trying not to get tagged out. His parents know that feeling of being stuck. But not in a good way. Last fall, they were burdened with bad news from doctors."How do we explain to our nine-year-old what's going on? How do we answer those questions?" Joe Strawn said, talking about brain cancer and the battle his 9-year-old son had ahead of him. "He might not be able to walk, might not be able to use his right hand."Through the long days, nights and surgeries, Sammy found comfort and companionship at the hospital."I see you, I hear you, and I'm here to support you through your entire journey," said Holly Vander Pol, a Child Life Specialist. Child Life specialists work at hospitals across the country. Vander Pol works at Nebraska Medicine. Her goal is to help kids and families understand what's going on by communicating through demonstration and play. She also answers questions they might have beforehand."What does it mean when someone says access my port?" Vander Pol explained. "What does it mean when I'm having my dressings changed?"Child Life specialists found ways to keep Sammy entertained every day, letting him forget that he was in the hospital and had to be there."They were super nice. One always played with me, the other always played with me," said Sammy Strawn.Sammy is now in remission and getting regular check-ups.In honor and appreciation of those who helped Sammy, his parents started a foundation called 'Sammy Strong.'Their goal is to keep that play and partnership going.Money raised thorough 'Sammy Strong' will help support Child Life specialists in Omaha and across the country."There's a whole laundry list of things they can use, anything you can think of that's new, in a package, it would be needed," said Joe.Most Child Life specialists programs run off of donations.This weekend, 'Sammy Strong' is hosting a 5k and Home Run derby at Zorinsky Youth Baseball Complex.For more information, click here.

OMAHA, Neb. —

On a hot summer day, you can find Sammy Strawn playing baseball with his friends. He especially loves playing pickle, trying not to get tagged out.

His parents know that feeling of being stuck. But not in a good way. Last fall, they were burdened with bad news from doctors.

"How do we explain to our nine-year-old what's going on? How do we answer those questions?" Joe Strawn said, talking about brain cancer and the battle his 9-year-old son had ahead of him. "He might not be able to walk, might not be able to use his right hand."

Through the long days, nights and surgeries, Sammy found comfort and companionship at the hospital.

"I see you, I hear you, and I'm here to support you through your entire journey," said Holly Vander Pol, a Child Life Specialist. Child Life specialists work at hospitals across the country.

Vander Pol works at Nebraska Medicine. Her goal is to help kids and families understand what's going on by communicating through demonstration and play. She also answers questions they might have beforehand.

"What does it mean when someone says access my port?" Vander Pol explained. "What does it mean when I'm having my dressings changed?"

Child Life specialists found ways to keep Sammy entertained every day, letting him forget that he was in the hospital and had to be there.

"They were super nice. One always played with me, the other always played with me," said Sammy Strawn.

Sammy is now in remission and getting regular check-ups.

In honor and appreciation of those who helped Sammy, his parents started a foundation called 'Sammy Strong.'

Their goal is to keep that play and partnership going.

Money raised thorough 'Sammy Strong' will help support Child Life specialists in Omaha and across the country.

"There's a whole laundry list of things they can use, anything you can think of that's new, in a package, it would be needed," said Joe.

Most Child Life specialists programs run off of donations.

This weekend, 'Sammy Strong' is hosting a 5k and Home Run derby at Zorinsky Youth Baseball Complex.

For more information, click here.

9-year-old cancer survivor now supporting his hospital mentors

Sammy Strong Foundation raises money for Child Life Specialists

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