September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and for one Jefferson girl, she is on her own personal cancer journey.

In August of 2017, then three-year-old Avril Shahan was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Her mother Tabatha Shahan says this type of leukemia is the most common in children, with a 90-percent survival rate. Tabatha talks about going through something that no parent ever wants to go through.

“As terrible as this diagnosis has been on us, I kind of count my blessings that it did happen, because it has opened my eyes so much. Childhood cancer is not as rare as most people think. One in 320 kids before age 20 will be diagnosed with cancer.”

Along the way, the Shahan family raised over $45,000 for chemotherapy t-shirts, iPads and other toys for the children’s cancer department of Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines, where Avril has received treatment. Most recently, there was a Play-Doh drive in Jefferson for the children’s hospital as well. Tabatha points out that a small amount of cancer research funds are dedicated to childhood cancer.  

“Less than four-percent of research funds goes to childhood cancer. I will do everything I can every year to raise money for childhood cancer (and) raise money for Blank Children’s Hospital. Because if it wasn’t for those doctors, those nurses, and those child-life people, my daughter wouldn’t be sitting in my lap today. She is so brave.”

Tabatha adds, now five-year-old Avril will be finished with IV(Intravenous) chemotherapy on October 9th as she goes into remission. She thanks the community for their support and encouragement throughout Avril and her family’s long journey to a positive end.