A collection of stories about an aggressive childhood cancer: the challenges of the families, the determination of the doctors seeking a cure, and the courage of the kids on the front lines. A book about hope, heartache, and perseverance – and every child’s right to grow up. A group of parents whose children fought stage 4 neuroblastoma share stories about the experience, starting with the shocking moment of learning “it’s cancer.” They write about the helplessness of watching a beloved child undergo invasive therapies and the despair of knowing the child might not survive. And how they made a hospital a home and discovered inner resources they didn’t know they had. Editor Shirley Staples also chronicles the decades-long quest to cure neuroblastoma – the passion and dedication of the physician-scientists at Memorial Sloan Kettering; the obstacles in combating this cunning adversary; and the scientific breakthroughs that are changing the odds. The result is a book viewing childhood cancer through two lenses: the fight in both clinic and lab. It depicts a tight-knit community whose members share triumphs and setbacks and see that, even in the darkest hours, ordinary people can exhibit extraordinary dignity and resilience. All royalties will be used for neuroblastoma research at Memorial Sloan Kettering. Contributors: Alice Baker, Jen Click, Meg Crossett, Maria de Cardenas, Sebastian Gillen, Aaron Hudson, Kathleen Leary, Donna Ludwinski, Cheryl Mozer, Mark Mozer, Antonia Palmer, Mooki Saltzman, Shirley Staples, Franche Carlson Straus, Donald Vangel, Brian Whepley, Kathy Whepley