The Gabriels have always been a close family. The family of 8, which includes 6 girls who are close in age, is used to the attention they attract. “Our maiden name was Gabriel and even the priest at our parents’ church joked with our mom and dad,” said Beth Diefendorff, nurse clinician in hematology/oncology. “He […]
National Cancer Survivor Month: E.J.’s story
Miami University student E.J. Coulas has been in remission for 12 years after battling an aggressive type of leukemia. The disease struck before he was old enough to understand it. He was in treatment for more than 3 years, yet he says his memories are mostly positive. “When I was a kid, I didn’t think […]
Dancing for the Kids raises $140,000 for the Showers Family Center
The 8th annual Dancing for the Kids fundraising event, hosted by the Emerging Leaders of Akron Children’s Hospital, raised $140,000 to benefit patient and family services at Akron Children’s Showers Family Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders. The event, presented by Adams, Gut & Associates, featured 9 local celebrities who performed on the Akron […]
8-year-old boy aspires to be like his oncology doctor someday
Eight-year-old Grady Oprean is going to make a fine doctor one day. He’s got the compassionate bedside manner part licked. That’s for sure. And despite his young age he has experienced enough of the clinical side that he can probably pass his MCATs (Medical College Admission Test) today. “I want to work for Akron Children’s someday […]
Cancer survivors provide the highlight at YSU football game
The toughest kids on the sidelines at the football game between Youngstown State University and Central Connecticut State weren’t the ones wearing pads and football jerseys. They were the group of young fighters celebrating Survivors Day with a tailgate party, sideline passes and a halftime balloon launch held in their honor. Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning […]
Youngstown boy with rare condition all smiles after Air Base visit
Donovan Bellamy’s life is anything but typical for a 9-year-old boy. Once a week, the Youngstown 4th grader can be found at Akron Children’s Hospital’s Beeghly campus receiving an 8-hour-long infusion treatment for a rare genetic disorder. This past Monday, however, Bellamy was treated to a special experience at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station as […]