Cannonball Kids' cancer Foundation to Help Fund Oncofertility

In their second grant cycle of 2019, Cannonball Kids’ cancer Foundation (CKc) awarded $565,000 for four research grants, creating 200 options for children battling cancer through clinical trials, programs and young investigators. Among those awarded, first announced in January of 2020, was Amy A. Smith, MD, and Laura Wieber, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, of Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, receiving $65,000 for the first and only Florida-based oncofertility clinic for childhood cancer patients.

Infertility remains a persistent and major concern for childhood cancer survivors. Early intervention is essential to protecting reproductive health and the cornerstone of successful intervention is a nurse patient navigator to educate families on their options and make a family-centered, timely plan.

CKc’s funding will help support three main goals:

1. the hiring of such a patient navigator at Orlando Health Arnold Palmer,

2. the creation of a multidisciplinary service team for reproductive preservation,

3. an ovarian tissue cryopreservation opportunity for pre-pubescent females at the hospital.

“We are so grateful to the Cannonball Kids’ cancer Foundation for this grant. It will help transform futures for our cancer patients. This effort will make Orlando Health Arnold Palmer and Central Florida the hosts of the first and only dedicated pediatric oncofertility program in the state of Florida.” – Amy A. Smith, MD, Chief, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, the Hayley Center for Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders, Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.

Our Oncofertility Program brings together oncology and fertility experts to help preserve the patient’s ability to have children in the future. The Oncofertility Program is a joint effort between specialists within Urology, Adolescent Gynecology and the Haley Center for Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders.