September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, a time to highlight the needs of children with cancer and to give everyone the opportunity to make their voice heard in the fight against childhood cancer.

Advances in treating childhood cancer are being made, but there is still so much more do learn about childhood cancer and a tremendous need for a cure.  About 11,000 children will be diagnosed with cancer this year and more than 1,300 sweet precious children will die from the disease making childhood cancer the second leading cause of death in children.

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) website "honors every child who is fighting cancer or who has succumbed to this disease" by sharing their stories.  "The courage, humor, widom and selflessness they show throughout their illnesses, and the intensity with which they enjoy life continue to inspire us to find the research breakthroughs that will make childhood cancer a thing of the past."

A poignant video chronicling Tara Stout's two year journey battling Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia reveals a young girl fighting a terrible disease with grace, honesty, humor and courage beyond that any child should have ever have to face.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29r3eelIph4&feature=related

"Despite incredible advances in the treatment of childhood cancers, not every child survives.  Tara's story reminds us that we must never rest until cures for this, and other diseases of childhood, are found. That is our responsibility to her and to all the children we serve.  We honor Tara's memory and we thank her for giving us this extraordinary gift, Diary of Hope." CHOP website.

Tara was diagnosed in December 2006 with a brain tumor and received treatment at CHOP.  Following surgery and a remarkable recovery, Tara realizes how fortunate she is and her thoughts go out to the other patients that impacted her life while she was hospitalized.

Tara recalls, "While in the Intensive Care Unit, I met a toddler named Skylar. The smile on this charming 18-month-old charmed everyone, and he came to visit my room regularly. His mother explained that his disease, spinal muscular atrophy, is gradually deteriorating his neuromuscular system so that every few months, he loses more of his ability to move. Soon this disease will affect his lungs and heart. So Skylar's life expectancy is only 3-5 years. I was shocked to hear this adorable toddler had only a few more years to live."

When Tara asked Skylar's mother what she could do in light of his prognosis, she  answered, "When you know your child only has a few more months or years to live, you focus on bringing happiness to every moment he has left. That is why I brought him to visit you. You have given Skylar an extra hour of joy that his short life would have otherwise been without."

Making friends with other children fighting for their lives against cancer, Tara continues to visit with many of the patients during her follow-up visits.  Impressed by the level of care received from her neurosurgeon, neurologists, physical therapists and many others, Tara has set her goal to become a pediatric neurosurgeon.

CHOP pleads, "we fight childhood cancer every day with advanced technology, superior care and groundbreaking research, but it's not enough. We can't win the fight against childhood cancer without you. We need the power of your voice, and your family members' voices, and your friends' voices -- to be heard in the places where change is effected."