ALSF's Travel for Care Program helps cancer patients cover big costs
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- For moms and dads with children who have cancer, sometimes that decision to do anything that needs to be done comes with big costs and life changes. That is where Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation can help.
"He had an MRI last week that was cancer-free," mom Diane Anderson said. "It's always very scary when they have a scan."
Amazing news for a kid who has had bad news three times.
"When Lincoln was 3 years old," Anderson said, "he was diagnosed with a very rare form of brain cancer."
Rare but with a high rate of reoccurrence.
For Lincoln, the cancer came back twice.
"He has had three surgeries, three rounds of proton radiation," Diane said, "and two full years of chemotherapy."
The third round of cancer was especially frightening for Lincoln and his family.
"When it came back again," Diane said, "our doctor said, 'Really, your treatment options are very limited but there's a study in Augusta, Georgia.'"
The Andersons are in Weare, New Hampshire. That means traveling a thousand miles to Augusta, Georgia every month for a year.
It was a massive financial burden, but for Lincoln's mom, there wasn't a choice.
"When your child is diagnosed with cancer, it's scary," Diane said. "You're thinking about them getting better, you're thinking about what can we do and you'll do anything for your child to help them."
The Andersons got a helping hand from Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation's Travel for Care Program, which paid for airline tickets to and from Georgia.
"Not having to financially worry about how we're going to travel down there is a huge burden to be lifted off," Diane said.
In fact, Lincoln's treatment was part of a clinical trial, partially funded by ALSF and the foundation's impact doesn't stop there.
Lincoln's sister, Hadley, is part of the SuperSibs program.
"So every month Hadley gets a little something in the mail," Diane said. "It's the whole family that they're treating, it's been a blessing."
The Andersons make it a priority to give back, spreading the word about Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation and even holding their own stand during "Lemonade Days."
As for Lincoln, his mom says he is thriving.
"We have been through a lot," Diane said, "but Lincoln is a happy son, normal kid, wants to play and go to school."
And that means a lot of superheroes and LEGOs like this giant Disney castle the family built.