New Lenox Family's Generosity Gives Back to the Treasure Chest Foundation

Ten years ago, Taylor James was diagnosed with a form of high risk leukemia, at the age of three. Within days of the diagnosis the James family of New Lenox learned their daughter would require a bone marrow transplant due to her high risk subtype of leukemia and that they needed to start looking for a bone marrow donor. Their oldest son Matt was found to be a perfect match and within two months of her initial diagnosis, Taylor was undergoing a bone marrow transplant.

Ten years later, the James family continues to give back to the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation (POTCF), the organization that helped Taylor throughout her treatment period, by hosting a bowling party at Laraway Lanes in New Lenox to celebrate the 10th anniversary of her successful bone marrow transplant. The party attendees were asked to bring a toy for children currently undergoing cancer treatment at Advocate Hope Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn and Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago, the two institutions that cared for Taylor. Approximately 100 friends, co-workers, family members and some of Taylor’s former teachers were on hand to celebrate Taylor’s 10 year successful bone marrow transplant anniversary. After the party ended more than 200 toys and a $220 was collected to directly benefit children fighting cancer.

Taylor’s mother Maureen recalled the positive effect that the toys from the Treasure Chest provided to her daughter throughout her treatments. “The Treasure Chest directly affects the patient and putting a smile on their faces means the world to us.” Taylor’s father Pat chimed in saying, “It is nice to see everyone coming together for an awesome charity.”

POTCF Founder and CEO Colleen Kisel said, “My heart was especially moved as I could recall the day my son was diagnosed with leukemia. It is hard enough to hear the word cancer let alone that your child needs a bone marrow transplant all in the same sentence. We feel so blessed to have the support of the James family along with their friends and neighbors.”

When asked about the bowling party, Taylor said, “It was a great opportunity to see a lot of friends we haven’t seen. It is great to see the love that everyone still has for us after all these years.”

The POTCF is a unique organization whose services impact more than 9,300 young cancer patients each month in 49 hospitals across 17 states. Nowhere else in the nation does such a program exist. Ms. Kisel founded the organization in 1996 after her then seven-year-old son Martin had been diagnosed with leukemia in 1993. She 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 22nd anniversary of remission from the disease in 2015.

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.