We have opened up a new location in Orlando, Florida
Executive Summary - THE MORGAN CENTER Orlando
Studies have shown that 90 percent of brain development happens during a child's first five years.1 Moreover, the lack of early childhood socialization and education opportunities can cause long-term behavioral and cognitive difficulties. Young children battling cancer on chemotherapy treatment can have suppressed immune systems. These children can risk infection and severe illness by attending typical preschool programs. For their own safety, most of these children live in a world of minimum exposure and isolation.
In 2003, THE MORGAN CENTER, a program for preschool-age children with cancer, was founded by the parents of a 2-year-old cancer patient in New York named Morgan. Morgan suffered through two and a half years of chemotherapy treatment. As with most young children on chemotherapy, Morgan went from home to the hospital and back. Morgan couldn't go to preschool or play with her friends. For almost 3 years, Morgan's only friends were the doctors, nurses, social workers, and other young cancer patients she met at the hospital.
Morgan's parents realized that although young children with cancer could not attend a 'typical' preschool program; they could interact and socialize with children who also have cancer. They created THE MORGAN CENTER to give young children battling cancer the preschool experiences that their daughter and other children like her had previously been deprived of. At THE MORGAN CENTER, the children get to socialize, learn, make friends and have fun! THE MORGAN CENTER provides young children battling cancer and their families with a sense of normalcy and a distraction from their treatment and their pain. It gives these young children back a part of their childhood that cancer took away. Ultimately, THE MORGAN CENTER helps to restore children with cancer and their families to their full potential. THE MORGAN CENTER is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charitable organization. Operations are supported entirely by private donations and fundraising at no cost to the families. Morgan is now in college, an honor student, Division 1 scholarship athlete and is cured of cancer.
The Problem
This year it is estimated that 11,060 children will be diagnosed with cancer in the United States.2 These children and their families then proceed through a devastating and arduous, financially burdensome, emotionally exhausting, and socially isolating battle through treatment. Children with cancer have suppressed immune systems due to their lowered white blood cell count from chemotherapy. For this reason, if young children with cancer were to attend a typical preschool they could risk exposure to life-threatening infections, illnesses, and childhood diseases. While their peers are learning to laugh, play and make friends in a preschool setting, they cannot; literary adding insult to their injury. The need currently exists for a safe learning environment for thousands of preschool-age children battling cancer in cities across the United States.
The Solution
THE MORGAN CENTER is the first program, of its kind in the United States for preschool-age children battling cancer. After recognizing the need and with the support of leaders in the Orlando pediatric cancer community, THE MORGAN CENTER is developing a program for preschool-age children battling cancer in Orlando. THE MORGAN CENTER Orlando is scheduled to open in the fall of 2019. Operations for THE MORGAN CENTER Orlando will be supported entirely by private donations and fundraising at no cost to the families. For more information please contact rod@themorgancenter.org.