The National Pediatric Cancer Foundation (NPCF) and Tampa Bay-based creative video agency Diamond View turn the spotlight on the youngest of pediatric cancer warriors in this heartfelt brand film “Hopes and Dreams”.
Directed by Diamond View’s Vanessa Diaz, the three-and-a-half minute public service film interviews superstars Eli (6), Ever (8) and Audrey (10)–now cancer survivors–on their difficult childhood cancer experiences and other lasting effects from harsh treatments; procedures that Dr. Trisha Larkin, who’s featured in the film, points out were tried and tested for adults, rather than the fragile bodies of infants and children.
Diaz cultivated a supportive set environment where each child could openly share their cancer stories. They delivered frank, surprisingly deep responses—like Eli, who described his brain cancer as “something you’re not supposed to have in your head” and pointed to the spot on his scalp where surgeons removed his tumor. Audrey, who was diagnosed with stage 3 liver cancer at just five months old, described the lasting effects she faces today, including GI tract issues and substantial hearing loss unfortunately caused by the chemotherapy treatment that saved her life.
“The way that a lot of the medications and therapies we’re using currently have been developed are really for adult cancers,” stated Dr. Larkin. “So we’re also constantly looking at ways to reduce the toxicities of the treatments we’re giving.” Dr. Larkin is an investigator for the Sunshine Project Consortium, which heads research for such treatments. She was treated for pediatric leukemia at age three.
