Help Keep South Slope Boy’s Memory Alive With Team CALEB

Caleb Sande was only 6 years old when he was diagnosed with Burkitt’s lymphoma, a rapidly growing form of non-Hodgkins lymphoma, in the winter of 2013. By September of the same year, the PS 10 first grader had passed away.

Through their heartache, though, was a shining light that helped the Sande family along this cancer journey: Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

“Jessica (Caleb’s child life specialist) and the other members of the pediatrics world at Sloan-Kettering made Caleb’s time in treatment not just one of sickness and pain, but also a time of joy, fun, and learning,” explained Caleb’s mom Ellen. “Jessica was so dedicated to Caleb, and Caleb loved her with all his heart.

“They did lots of medical play together,” she continued, “and he really took to it. He would do dressing changes on the IV port of a teaching mannequin, flushed IV lines in baby dolls, and did lots of exams and medical procedures on a puppet, Ivy, who he loved so much and who even stayed in his room with him sometimes when he was inpatient.

“These things all make MSKCC an amazing place,” Ellen said, “but of course the even more important thing is the excellent medical care and the research that is done there.”

After Caleb’s diagnosis, the family was introduced to Kids Walk For Kids With Cancer, an annual walk for Memorial Sloan-Kettering that donates 100% of its proceeds to the hospital for pediatric cancer research. Since its inaugural walk in 2001, the foundation has raised $2.1 million dollars.

“Caleb was excited about Kids Walk from the minute he heard of it,” said Ellen. “He was so thankful to Sloan, thrilled to be raising money to help other kids get better, and so happy and proud to hear about how much money was coming in through Team CALEB.

“The day of the walk itself was such a joy, for Caleb and for us,” she remembered. “Caleb was invited up to count down the start off for the walk, joined by Toby Pannone, another boy from the neighborhood who had received treatment at Sloan-Kettering.

“Caleb asked his big brother Banjo and his cousin Charlie to join him on stage,” Ellen continued. “The kids played around with two of the clowns from Sloan-Kettering, ‘Dr.Doodle Doo’ (‘Chief of Staph’) and ‘Dr. Eleven,’ running through fake finish lines.”

The wonderful feelings that the Sande family holds for Kids Walk are increased tenfold when they consider how their fundraising helps other children experiencing the harsh realities of pediatric cancer treatment.

“Even for the many children who survive childhood cancer,” Ellen said, “the toxicity of the treatments currently available mean that they live with numerous negative effects of treatment, including long-term side effects and risk of secondary cancers.

“These are the reasons that we need research dollars allocated to pediatric cancer research” she continued. “Treatments must improve, and the only way for that to happen is through money for research.”

Despite their tragic loss, Ellen, her husband Michael, and son Banjo never doubted that they would participate in the 2014 Kids Walk.

“I wish, more than anything in this world, that Caleb had come through this and was here to walk with us again this year,” Ellen said. “I wish beyond words that Banjo still had his brother by his side. Unfortunately, this cannot be.

“And so, we walk,” she continued. “We walk to honor Caleb’s memory, we walk to make him proud. We walk in gratitude for the excellent care, the joy, and the hope that Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center gave to Caleb and to us. And we walk to make things better for the kids who still have a chance.”

Ready to help, South Slope? At the time of this post, Team CALEB has raised half of their $10,800 goal. Let’s put them over the top! Donations can be made on the Team CALEB website, and if you’d like to take things a step beyond a donation, lace up those walking shoes and register for the Kids Walk For Kids With Cancer event on Saturday, May 10. Additional details and registration information can be found here.

Photos by Ellen Hollander Sande