ChemoMoms Reach Out

By Jessica Taloney Reporter

One mom's mission is making a difference in the lives of dozens of families dealing with childhood cancer. ChemoMoms Reach Out

Published: Fri, September 19, 2008 - 5:00 pm Last Updated: Sun, September 21, 2008 - 11:30 am

Jessica Taloney

Watching 3 year old Jensen Byrd run around the fellowship hall of First Baptist Church in Tillmans Corner, you wouldn't know he has one of the most serious types of childhood cancers.

"I was thinking he was just constipated or he'd swallowed a toy," said Melissa Byrd, Jensen's mom, remembering the day he was diagnosed. "You never expect to hear your son has a tumor the size of a grapefruit in his abdomen."

Jensen was just 2 1/2 when he was diagnosed in December 2007 with Neuroblastoma, a cancer that typically is found during infancy and affects 650 children each year. Not knowing where to turn, a small gesture from a complete stranger let Jensen's mom know their family wasn't alone.

"Whenever we first sat down with the doctors, they told us the diagnosis. They gave us a basket put together by ChemoMom," said Byrd.

ChemoMom is an organization that might as well be called ChemoMom. Tammy Pate started the group, but she's basically an army of one. Pate's daughter, Colette, also had Neuroblastoma and is the inspiration behind her work, but so far, Pate hasn't found much help planning holiday parties at the hospital and delivering baskets of essentials.

"I just need more community support. I know there are people out there that want to help a local group," says Pate.

Tammy's daughter has now been cancer free for three years, and Jensen is in his last four months of treatment. September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and Pate hopes an increased awareness will inspire people to help her reach more families effected by the devestating disease.

For more information on Chemo Moms of Mobile visit Tammy's website at http://chemomoms.blogspot.com or email her at chemomoms@yahoo.com.