Finding out your child has cancer isn't easy.
"The journey has been scary," says Andrea Hoppe
Her 21-month-old son Caleb was diagnosed with leukemia in May.
"It's hard. You just take it one day at a time and you're just very thankful for the good days."
They spend a lot of time in the hospital.
"He would sit there in the hospital bed and be bored. So we would bring a big bag of toys."
But they didn't do the trick for this one-year-old. Finally Hoppe found the solution. "We brought the iPad and it was so much easier."
The games and activities were the perfect distraction during Caleb's treatments. It has helped her son in his fight and now she wants to help others.
"We just thought, 'What can we do to help these kids who are fighting the ultimate fight?' Something they would enjoy and make them more comfortable in their stay," says Hoppe.
Through donations, so far they raised enough money for eight iPads. Thursday, seven-year-old leukemia patient, Sam Stiles, was the first to get one. He also got an iTunes card and a iPad protector.
"It will be a nice distraction and it's something he's just thrilled about," says his mom, Deanna Stiles.
Sam's been fighting cancer for almost two years.
"We've spent quite a bit of time here."
But Stiles says this gift will help him through the rest of the journey, "This is something that's brightened his day. It's nice to see him happy."
Hopefully when more money is raised, it will brighten the days of all 34 patients here.
If you would like to donate money towards iPads for these patients click here.
