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Morgan was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at the age of 2 in October 2000. Due to chemotherapy treatment, Morgan had a suppressed immune system, and
therefore could not interact with other children. Morgan was truly affected by the lack of opportunity to socialize in a learning environment. Morgan and her mother were faced with
the unfairness of the situation every Tuesday on the way to Schneider Children’s Hospital. On these days, they would drive by the preschool Morgan was supposed to attend and
would pass all their friends making the left turn to take them there. Morgan and her mother were instead heading straight. Straight to the hospital on a path they did not choose. And
while Morgan faced finger sticks, needles, shots and horrible medications, her friends went to school to learn, to play and to have fun.
Morgan could not be part of their world; she could not go to preschool, because the chemotherapy suppressed her immune system to the point that a simple childhood disease,
illness or infection could be life threatening to her. For her own safety Morgan lived in a world of minimal exposures. Because of her lack of socialization, Morgan needed play
therapy and child psychologist sessions. Realizing what she was missing, and how important her cognitive development was, Morgan’s mother, Nancy, began to teach her at home.
They were fortunate to be able to hire a tutor to work with her as well. This was the only preschool experience Morgan had.
Then one day at the hospital while Morgan was playing with another child, both of them waiting to see their doctor, Nancy realized that this was OK, because they both had
suppressed immune systems. It occurred to her that there should be a place where children with cancer can learn, socialize , and have fun together without the risks. But nothing like
this existed. This was the beginning of The Morgan Center.
The Morgan Center has now moved from Nancy’s kitchen to The Cultural Development Center in Plainview. As the founder, director and teacher of the center, Nancy wants to give
children with cancer the preschool experiences that Morgan and many children like her have been deprived.
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