Katie Atkins Benefit to Support the Jimmy Fund

Katie Atkins

On Saturday, June 8, there will be a pig roast and cookout in honor of Katie Atkins at Maasser Park, Route 44 in Colebrook to benefit the Jimmy Fund. The Jimmy Fund Clinic is part of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, and it is where Katie goes once every three weeks for treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (A.L.L.). Katie was diagnosed with this type of cancer on July 10, 2001—a day we will never forget. Today, Katie has an 85% prognosis for recovery and she is doing well, but it has been a long road for Katie over the last year.

Katie spent the first month following her diagnosis in Children's Hospital Boston, as the doctors worked to get her into remission; we are fortunate that Katie has remained in remission since then, and she has been readmitted to the hospital only once for an infection. For thirty weeks after Katie was released, we returned once a week to the Jimmy Fund Clinic in Boston for chemotherapy. In the course of that treatment Katie had an allergic reaction, which meant that on Mondays we would go to Portland, ME for one shot and back to Boston on Thursdays for the other shot. That lasted for a few months, and then we were back to once a week in Boston. We overcame another hurdle when that cycle finally ended on March 21; now we go to Boston only once every three weeks.

The Jimmy Fund has been a huge factor in Katie's recovery. When Katie goes there she is treated with respect. Her doctors and nurses treat her as if she were their only patient. They treat the parents with respect and compassion, too. They take time to answer questions and never rush me out the door, and they know exactly how to help when a parent has had enough of seeing her child go through this. All the while they smile and keep me going.

The clinic which Katie goes to is nothing short of a play date. The waiting room is a large playroom. In the center of the room is a large table where the children work with Lisa, a Child Life Specialist, on seasonal projects. They color, play with Barbie dolls, play games and put puzzles together. At the far end of the room is a fort type of object with an enclosed slide. It is adorned with hand-painted pictures of the characters from The Little Mermaid. Chairs for the adults line the outer walls, and the hum of a fish tank is the background noise. Around the clinic walls there are hand-painted pictures of classic Disney characters—everyone from Geppetto to Bambi—created by a local artist as a gift to the children.

There are volunteers who come to play with the children and help the parents, who bring the siblings with us. Murray, an older gentleman, sings to Katie every time we see him. Then there is Ed, also an older gentleman who loves to walk Taylor (Katie's younger, yet much bigger sister) around and keep her happy. Other volunteers include Jackie, who is going to school to become a Child Life Specialist, Nora, Rosie, and a couple of other people we don't see.

The Jimmy Fund Clinic is a place where these little people can go and not be stared at or treated as if they're different. It is a place where families can go and know that, when they speak to someone, that person really knows what you are going through. That is not to say that the support of family and friends isn't important; it is just easier sometimes when the person really understands your fears, frustrations and heartache.

Not only does the Jimmy Fund give quality medical care, but they also help patients and their families handle the stress that we all face and maintain the strength to stay positive. The clinic works with different organizations to provide families with outings. We have enjoyed weekend trips to Camp Sunshine in Sebago, Maine and Wildcat Mountain in New Hampshire—all at no cost to us. They offer tickets to local plays, Boston Red Sox games and even to the Blue Man Group—all so these kids can have a little sunshine in an otherwise difficult time in their lives.

What Becky (Millard) Boccio and I are hoping to accomplish from this benefit is to raise money for the Jimmy Fund; all profits will go directly to the Jimmy Fund and nothing to my family or Katie. However, to put on a benefit you have to have money and the goods to do it. We are currently looking for monetary as well as in-kind donations. Many local merchants have offered goods for raffles, but we are still in need of many other items.

The benefit pig roast and cookout to honor Katie Atkins and benefit the Jimmy Fund will be held on Saturday, June 8 from noon-6 p.m. at Maasser Park, Route 44 near the Colebrook-Norfolk town line. In addition to the pig roast, hot dogs and hamburgers, beer and soda will be provided, and there will be activities for the kids. Tickets are $40 for a family, $25 for a couple and $15 for an individual. Bring folding chairs or a blanket to sit on. Along with the food and beverages, the price of the tickets will include entertainment by two local bands, Machine Company and Crosseyed Cat.

To purchase tickets, call Becky Boccio at 860-496-1994, or Bob Keleher at 860-379-8851. The bands will also have tickets available when they play. If you would like to make an in-kind or monetary donation you may also do so through them. A tax I.D. number and letter of intent from the Jimmy Fund can be provided upon request. I look forward to seeing all of you there to help support this great cause!