LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Kentucky Children’s Hospital is getting significant funding for pediatric cancer research.
Hyundai's Hope on Wheels is donating $100,000 to the hospital as part of its "Hope Lights the Way" initiative. It's part of the nonprofit's 26-year-old mission to help end childhood cancer.
Doctor John D’Orazio said while the process for each patient varies, time and tests are of the essence when it comes to treatment.
“We'll draw some labs before to see if their bodies are ready for it,” D’Orazio said. “And right now, we have to send it to the labs and take it up to the lab, wait for the lab to batch them and stuff, and sometimes, it can take several hours.
Hospital staff said it plans to add more all-around support for families with this grant, including orientations, shorter turnaround times at its clinics and labs in-house.
Beth Willoughby, mother of 16-year-old cancer survivor Lukas Brown, said she's grateful for the support during unpredictable times.
“Lukas's infusions were already going to be four hours, so to wait two extra hours just to know if his numbers are good for that infusion that day, to be able to have those extra machines, is going to be a huge help for those kids,” Willoughby said.
“It wouldn't be possible without the donors and what (UK) does yearly to help the families. I truly can't put into words what it makes all of us feel, and I think I can speak for every parent of a pediatric cancer patient."
She said these chances will make a lasting impression.
Hyundai's Hope on Wheels leaders said they hope to reach a record-high quarter of $1 billion in lifetime donations by September.