Much Needed Support For Families At Dana Farber

BOSTON (CBS) - It's frightening enough to learn your child has a life-threatening disease like cancer.  But that diagnosis can also put a big financial strain on families, in addition to the physical and emotional toll.

Now, one special program is helping hundreds of families whose kids are being treated at one Boston hospital.

Like many five-year-olds, Mikalo is all revved up for the holidays, especially after receiving a life-saving bone marrow transplant last March.

Mikalo was diagnosed with an acute form of leukemia when he was just 18 months old.   His mom, Raquel Rohlfing explains, "I was overwhelmed by the fact I had to be with him 24/7 and care for him, I didn't know how I was going to manage that and the outside stuff at work and home."

Raquel, who was a single mom at the time, had to quit her job.  "I felt desperate and overwhelmed by the finances, I was just trying to take care of Mikalo."

WBZ-TV's Jonathan Elias reports.

Joe Chabot of the Pediatric Resource Program at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute explains, "A cancer diagnosis is scary, but it also causes many of our families to face financial difficulties which is a side effect many people don't see."

But Raquel was able to get financial and other support through the Pediatric Resource Program at Dana Farber, where Mikalo was being treated.

Chabot explains, "It focuses on concrete financial help, things like transportation, accommodations in Boston while they're child is being treated, all of the out of pocket costs our families face, make it a little easier while they're child is being treated here."

Raquel says she is eternally grateful for their help and guidance, "Mikalo is doing well because of all the people that were put in place to get us to where we are now."  And so is Mikalo, "I like to play with them, they're my friends."

Raquel and Mikalo say they're so grateful to the folks at Dana Farber, they're hoping to give back to other patients being treated there and their families.

Viist Dana Farber's  Pediatric Resource site for more information about the progam and how you can help a family like Mikalo's.