Hello, I am Liam Coakley and as a registered nurse in the Hematology/Oncology/Stem Cell Transplant department at Lurie Children’s, I've spent the past six years caring for some of the bravest children you'll ever meet. Thousands of kids are diagnosed with pediatric cancer and blood disorders each year, and working with them has profoundly changed my life.

People often ask me, "How do you do it?" My answer isn't simple, as every day brings unique challenges, emotions, and patient stories. But I've learned that it's the little things that make the biggest difference

A Little Lighter, works to provide children and families with resources to make their hospitalization and cancer walks a bit easier. This includes toys, nail polish, candy, an ice cream cart, and more fun items! But more importantly, it includes things backpacks to carry continuous chemo infusions, pockets for feeding tubes, dinner for mothers of patients to meet and share their stories, and parking passes to aleviate the hefty fees of parking in downtown Chicago for months on end.

Our goal is to make each patient's journey a little easier, and your donations directly fund these crucial supportive items and experiences.

$10 can buy a family a thermometer to detect early signs of life-threatening infections at home while their child is immunocompromised.

$14 can pay for a parking pass so both parents can come to bedside for dinner without thinking of the cost of another parking space. 

$50 can buy games and distractive toys for kids during their long hospital stays.  

$100 can support a parent attending one of our parents support groups.

$500 can help fund an event for our Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) group to support teens going through cancer treatment.

$1,000 can go towards finding better treatment for pediatric cancer and sickle cell disease. 

All donations are tax-deductible and will be acknowledged by Lurie Children’s Foundation.