Shawna and Garrett Houston shortly after Garrett’s cancer returned.

Did you know that leukemia is the most common blood cancer and the most common form of cancer among children and adolescents in the United States? September is both National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and National Blood Cancer Awareness Month. Raising awareness is the first step to tackling challenges and reaching goals. It connects people to resources, increases funding for research and promotes prevention and screening.

Through a foundation she created to honor her son, Shawna Houston, a business analyst I with Palmetto GBA, works every day to raise awareness of childhood cancer and to support families confronting this disease. She shares her experience to help others.

Childhood Cancer and Leukemia Hits Home

In the spring of 2015, Shawna’s 14-year-old son Garrett was experiencing symptoms of a sinus infection. After doctor visits produced two misdiagnoses, his doctor sent him immediately for a CT (computed tomography) scan.

On Friday, April 24, Garrett learned he had cancer—acute myeloid leukemia with malignant myeloid sarcomas, a rare cancerous tumor. Over the next 270 days in the hospital, Garrett endured six rounds of chemotherapy, 24 radiation treatments to the tumor behind his right eye and a bone marrow transplant. While Garrett appeared to be winning his battle against this blood cancer, it relapsed. Less than a year after his diagnosis, Garrett lost his life to the disease.

Garrett Houston Foundation—Helping Other Families

In 2016, Shawna established the Garrett Houston Foundation, a registered non-profit organization in Ohio, to support families throughout the United States confronting childhood cancer. One in four families lose more than 40 percent of their annual household income due to cancer-treatment work disruptions, according to the Children’s Cancer Research Fund.

The Foundation helps families cover expenses. It also purchases games for the teen room at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus. The Foundation sends each child a personalized care package that includes an item of the child’s choosing that Shawna crochets, such as hats, superhero blankets, scarves and animals.

“I do in-person and online fundraisers and pay for a lot out of my own pocket,” said Shawna. “We also award a scholarship in Garrett’s memory to a graduating senior at South Webster High School, the school Garrett should have graduated from. To date we have awarded $4,250 in scholarships.”

Give the Gift of Life—Become a Blood and Bone Marrow Donor

Bone marrow transplants have successfully treated and cured blood cancer and other diseases since 1968. A transplant replaces a patient’s unhealthy cells with a donor’s cells collected from their blood and bone marrow.

“I ask anyone who is able to register to become a bone marrow donor and donate blood when you can,” Shawna added. “You can save a child’s life!” Learn about blood and bone marrow donation at https://bit.ly/4gx5I85. 

You could become someone’s second chance at life.

Follow the Garrett Houston Foundation on Facebook at https://bit.ly/4gt9srb.