Family Honors Son’s Memory and Benefits Children Fighting Cancer

A Channahon Family is honoring their son's memory by making a difference for other children fighting cancer. The Degnan family lost their 9-year-old son Austin who succumbed to his three-year battle with Osteosarcoma on October 4, 2021. Austin was treated at Rush Presbyterian St. Luke Children’s Hospital in Chicago.

On Saturday, November 6th, Carrie Degnan hosted a Celebration of Life memorial service for her son Austin. Carrie asked attendees to bring a donation of toys to support the Treasure Chest Foundation, the organization that helped Austin during his cancer treatment. 100’s of toys were donated to benefit the Foundation.

Carrie Degnan said, “The Treasure Chest was one of my son’s highlights during his hospital visits and stays. I want to be able to give back to those still fighting. The Treasure Chest Foundation is an amazing group!” Carrie’s mom Cindy Bahle added, “People have been really generous to our family. We are happy to give back.”

POTCF Founder and CEO Colleen Kisel said, “We are blessed to have the support of the Degnan family and friends. We don't have words to fully express just how sorry we are about what happened to young Austin.”

The POTCF is a unique organization whose services impact more than 14,800 young cancer patients in 63 cancer treatment centers in 21 states across the nation and in the District of Columbia. Nowhere else in the nation does such a program exist. Colleen Kisel founded the organization in 1996 after her then seven-year-old son Martin had been diagnosed with leukemia in 1993. Ms. Kisel discovered that giving her son a toy after each procedure provided a calming distraction from his pain, noting that when children are diagnosed with cancer their world soon becomes filled with doctors, nurses, chemotherapy drugs, surgeries and seemingly endless painful procedures. Martin celebrated his 28th anniversary of remission from the disease in March of this year.

If you would like further information about the Treasure Chest Foundation, please contact Colleen Kisel at 1-708-687-TOYS (8697) or visit the Foundation’s website at www.treasurechest.org.