About Pascale’s Pals
Pascale’s Pals, Inc. is a non-profit corporation developed to benefit the children and families staying at the Women and Children's Hospital in Columbia, Missouri. Our goal is to ease the burden of the family and provide happiness to the children during their stay in the hospital. It is our belief that happy children heal more quickly.
About Pascale
Pascale was born on December 31, 1993. On July 21, 1995, she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. She immediately started intensive chemotherapy treatment at the Children's Hospital in Columbia, Missouri. She finished treatment in 1998 and was enjoying a normal life.
Unfortunately, Pascale relapsed from the same leukemia in June 2000. After studying her bone marrow, Dr. Mahmoud decided that she was not a candidate to be treated again with chemotherapy. Her only option was a bone marrow transplant.
First we had to get her back into remission. Normally the kids would go back into remission within 14 days, but it took over 5 months for Pascale to go into remission. She received many combinations of chemo that were not giving results. We took her for 6 weeks to Minnesota to receive B-Pap treatment. Unfortunately it didn't work. Finally Dr. Mahmoud (oncologist) and Dr. Wall (bone marrow transplant) put a protocol together that was used 10 years ago at St. Jude on 4 children. It worked on Pascale and she was in remission.
On December 4th, 2000, we started preparation with whole body radiation at Cardinal Glennon Hospital in St. Louis. She received radiation for 5 days and 2 more days of chemo. Then she had an umbilical stem cell transplant on December 12, 2000.
From that date on, until June 2001, we were at Cardinal Glennon with very few days off. She became very sick and it is an absolute miracle that she is with us. We are thankful to God everyday for his mercy.
As of July 2003, Pascale has been progressing in every way. She has worked very hard to catch up with the 2 years she missed at school as well as getting her health back.
Now in 2012, Pascale is a senior at Rock Bridge High School and is looking forward to college!
How Pascale’s Pals Started
During the years of undergoing all these treatments, our family received a lots of support from friends and families. Our friends prayed for us, brought us food, gave us presents and surrounded us with love and hope. During these years we also encountered many families that did not have the same support. We saw that there was a need for an organization that could make it easier for these children and their families, while they were going through these difficult times.
With this in mind, Pascale’s Pals, Inc. was founded to assist children and the families of children who are diagnosed with cancer or any type of chronic or life-threatening illness.
Where do the funds come from?
During the first year, Pascale’s Pals started raising money by having bake sales at the hospital, totally approximately $1,200. Each year since then we have been growing by leaps and bounds. Now our main effort to raise funds is done through an annual dinner with a silent and live auction. In 2012 it will be held on Friday, March 9 at the Holiday Inn Executive Center. We also accept donations throughout the year.
What Are the Funds Used for?
Since Pascale’s Pals has no overhead expenses, all of the funds go directly to the children and families of the children in need. Every year we use some of the funds raised toward a big item. In the past we have built a beautiful playground, furnished all 34 rooms in the Women and Children's Hospital with flat screen TVs, DVID players and Wii systems. We also supplied all rooms with a sleeper bed or chair for the parents to use. We are in the process of renovating the waiting room for the neo-natel unit to allow the parents to be close to their new babies.
Copyright © 2006 Pascale's Pals, Inc.