It's impossible until it isn't.
Changing what’s possible in the fields of pediatric cancer and blood disorders. Contact us to schedule an appointment or arrange a referral.
When your child faces cancer, sickle cell disease or a serious blood disorder, it becomes the center of your world. You want a place that can take what feels impossible and strike it down.
At Ethie Haworth Cancer Center at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, we fight for the possibility of every child’s future. Our relentless work, program innovations and focused commitment are what keep us ranked nationally for the last 11 years.
Impossible happens here
Maddie's story
Owen's story
Targeting a tumor nobody else could is impossible.
Zoey’s mom had a normal and healthy pregnancy, but just weeks after birth, doctors noticed Zoey’s head was growing at an abnormal rate. An MRI confirmed that Zoey had a brain tumor taking up nearly half the space inside her head.
Read more about Zoey's journey.
After numerous surgeries, doctors still couldn’t precisely confirm what the tumor was. Multiple consultants studied the tumor and were stumped. But our pathology and oncology teams didn’t give up — eventually discovering a mutation using genetic profiling that wouldn’t have been possible just a few years ago. Their discovery allowed Zoey to be treated with a targeted oral chemotherapy with only minimal side effects.
Two years later, despite what was usually a lethal diagnosis, Zoey is a healthy, beautiful little girl.
Outsmarting infertility after chemo is impossible.
When Maddie was just 14 years old, doctors found a cancerous mass the size of a milk jug pressing on her windpipe, heart, lungs, and stomach. She immediately underwent surgery and intensive chemotherapy, but there was another problem. Maddie’s chemo would put her at risk for infertility later in life.
Read more about Maddie's journey.
Doctors performed leading-edge surgery to remove and freeze one of Maddie’s ovaries. When she’s ready to have a family, the preserved ovary can be reimplanted, increasing her chances of getting pregnant.
Thanks to the doctors at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, Maddie’s cancer is gone, but her dreams of being a mom are not.
Saving my life with a bone marrow transplant was impossible.
Diagnosed with aplastic anemia — a rare and sometimes lethal condition that prevents the body from making new blood cells — Owen required a bone marrow transplant to survive.
Read more about Owen's journey.
Out of the millions of donors, there wasn’t a single, perfect match. But the doctors at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital weren’t about to let that stop them. Instead, they turned to Owen’s dad. Despite not being a perfect match, he shared enough key genes with Owen to be a promising donor. Once Dad’s bone marrow was removed, it was infused into into Owen, and within a year, he was on the path to a full recovery. Owen’s only complaint? Now that he’s healthy, he doesn’t get to see his friends at the hospital as much anymore.
Thriving with sickle cell disease is impossible.
Abe was diagnosed with sickle cell disease at birth. The disease causes red blood cells to clump together and block blood flow — resulting in severe pain, fatigue, and even death.
Read more about Abe's journey.
At just one month old, Abe began receiving innovative treatments at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. But unlike other diseases, sickle cell never goes away. That’s why the Helen DeVos Sickle Cell team continues to work hand-in-hand with Abe’s mom — educating her on the best path forward and treating Abe for any flair-ups along the way.
Thanks to his mom, his care team, and his relentless spirit, Abe lives a pretty typical life for a 7-year-old — running, playing, and going to school with his friends.
Program highlights
- Advanced brain tumor clinics that take a highly specialized team approach to solving the complexities of brain tumors
- For patients both on and off active therapy, care from subspecialists including pediatric endocrinology, pediatric neuropsychology, pediatric PMR, social work, and school-teacher liaison
- Specific tumor board planning with all providers involved in comprehensive brain tumor care including pediatric ophthalmology, neurosurgery, radiation oncology, neuro-radiology, pathology, genetics, and more.
- Program uniquely designed around the unmet needs of this unique patient population facing special challenges specific to their life stages
- Ovarian tissue cryopreservation for young women undergoing chemotherapy
- The only testicular tissue cryopreservation program in Michigan and one of only 14 in the nation
- Supportive care including social, mental health and wellness services
- The first dedicated Adolescent Life Specialist in Michigan
- School liaison program
- Specialized survivorship care
- The only pediatric bone marrow transplant center in West Michigan, and one of only three in the state
- F.A.C.T. Accredited
- Offering allogeneic and autologous blood and bone marrow transplants
- Providing CAR-T Cell and Immune Therapies for complex cases
- Recognized by the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research since 1998
- Specialty expertise in managing advanced sickle cell therapies, pain management, and routine health maintenance
- Multi-disciplinary team including behavioral psychologist, teacher liaison, and child life
- Immediate 24/7 access to care with our pediatric emergency department, advanced imaging, and all other pediatric subspecialties
- Close collaboration with our own bone marrow transplant team when transplant needs to be a consideration for either standard of care or as an option through our current clinical trials
Learn more about our cancer and blood disorder program at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital
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Our specialists are ready to serve your child and your family.