Bulian Family Gives Back to the Treasure Chest Foundation

The Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation received a donation of toys, gifts and $250 thanks to the thoughtfulness and generosity of a courageous Joliet family whose daughter had benefitted from services provided by the Foundation.

Eleven years ago, Hannah Bulian, a Liberty Junior High Student in New Lenox, was diagnosed with leukemia on her twelfth birthday. On that day, the oncology nurses of Hope Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn brought young Hannah several toys from the Treasure Chest as part of the Foundation’s ongoing program to provide comfort and distraction from painful procedures to children and teens diagnosed with cancer. Sadly, after two years of brave struggles, Hannah lost her battle with cancer in May of 2010. Throughout the ordeal, Hannah’s family (father Mike, mother Kris and older sister Holly) noted how the anticipation of receiving a toy had helped Hannah endure countless painful treatments.

POTCF Founder and CEO Colleen Kisel said, “We always get many donations this time of year. While it brings us joy to see this outpouring of support, it is a sobering moment when we realize not all families see successful treatments. We are so grateful that the Bulian Family chooses to honor Hannah and give to the Treasure Chest year after year.”

The POTCF is a unique organization whose services impact more than 14,000 young cancer patients in 59 cancer treatment centers in 20 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 26th anniversary of remission from the disease in March of 2019.

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