Hear from | Dr. Alexandra Zorzi, Medical Director, Paediatric Oncology, Children’s Hospital at LHSC
During this year’s Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, I pause to reflect on both the challenges we face and the incredible progress we’ve made in childhood cancer care. At Children’s Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre, our team is deeply committed to ensuring that every child not only receives the most advanced treatments but also experiences hope, comfort, and dignity along their journey.
I can say with confidence – this progress wouldn’t be possible without our donors and community partners who give generously through Children’s Health Foundation.
Breakthroughs in Treatment
One of the most exciting developments in our program has been the ability to combine immunotherapy with traditional chemotherapy for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). This innovative approach offers the potential for stronger outcomes and fewer long-term side effects. Learn more about how donors are supporting these advances at Children’s Health Foundation.
Building a Centre of Excellence
The transformational $5-million gift from the Jahnke Family is helping us launch the Paediatric Oncology Centre of Excellence. This initiative is working to recruit specialized staff, create dedicated care spaces, and invest in precision medicine to bring care closer to home for families across Southwestern Ontario – from Windsor and Sarnia, to Kitchener-Waterloo and northward to Thunder Bay.
Major gifts, such as the Jahnke family’s, have enabled us to expand precision medicine in oncology. These investments are setting the stage for a brighter future for every child in our care.
Family-Centred Care
At Children’s Hospital, our mission is about more than medicine. Thanks to donor generosity, we are expanding nursing support, Child Life services, art therapy, aftercare clinics, and school reintegration programs — so children and families feel supported not only during treatment, but well into survivorship.
My intention for children who need our Paediatric Oncology Program is for them to be everything they were supposed to be had we never met. I want them to contribute to society and go to school, get into trouble, and have all those life experiences. I recognize the burden of cancer, while also knowing that children deserve to be children. Whether that’s playing with a therapy dog, laughing with Ollie, our Therapeutic Clown, or painting a picture in Art Therapy, these moments are vital to healing.
The Importance of Paediatric-Specific Equipment
One of the most overlooked — yet critical — parts of paediatric cancer care is equipment. At an adult hospital, you can often rely on standardized tools. In paediatrics, every child is different.
Think about something as simple as a chemotherapy needle: an adult hospital might stock one or two sizes. In paediatrics, we need a full range — from tiny needles for neonatal infants, to specialized equipment for toddlers, teens, and every stage in between. That variety is essential, and it comes at a cost.
Unlike medications, much of this specialized equipment is not mass-produced on a large scale. It’s made for the unique needs of children — and it’s funded thanks to donors at Children’s Health Foundation.
This is one of the many ways donor generosity directly translates into safer, more comfortable care for children.
Donor Impact
Every advancement I’ve described — whether in treatment, technology, or patient experience — has one thing in common: donors make it possible.
Your generosity fuels innovation, attracts top medical talent, and gives families the resources they need to feel safe, cared for, and hopeful.
Paediatric oncology is evolving rapidly, and at Children’s Hospital, LHSC, we’re proud to be at the forefront of that change. But every breakthrough — from advanced treatments to specialized equipment — depends on donor generosity.
With your support through Children’s Health Foundation, we can continue to:
- Fund life-changing research and clinical trials
- Provide the specialized equipment children need (from child-sized chemotherapy needles to innovative technologies)
- Expand education for healthcare teams
- Deliver support programs that help children and families heal beyond medicine
👉 Give today and help hope live for every child facing cancer.
