Childhood Cancer

Floor Speech

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Mr. CLOUD. Mr. Speaker, childhood cancer is a horrific illness plaguing not only our nation, but all nations of the world. In 2017, despite childhood cancer being the No. 1 cause of death by disease in the U.S., research funding specifically for childhood cancer was less than 4 percent of all national cancer funding. Earlier this year, Congress passed legislation that would provide more funding for research and development to combat childhood cancer. Yet more must be done in our communities. For this reason, I rise today to commend the actions of a family dedicated to raising awareness of childhood cancer, pushing for more involvement from the community, and highlighting the troubling effects this epidemic has on those diagnosed and their families. This is a family that has gone through the process of diagnosis, treatment, and--in this case--remission themselves.

Lt. Richard Jankovsky III, a DPS patrol officer and President of the Department of Public Safety Officers Association (DPSOA), has worked tirelessly to protect those on our highways and enforce the law. Yet his biggest challenge came when he experienced the effects of childhood cancer firsthand as his daughter Kaitlyn grappled with the disease for years.

Kaitlyn was diagnosed with leukemia in August of 2014 when she was only 13 years old. Kaitlyn underwent chemo, countless transfusions, and multiple surgeries, including a complete hip replacement, on her path to remission. Her last chemo treatment was on November 10, 2016. Now a senior at Woodsboro High School, Kaitlyn has challenged high schools across the state to wear gold ribbons this month, following Governor Greg Abbott's proclamation recognizing September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

A major issue many children like Kaitlyn face is access to blood for treatments. Cancer patients often need to replenish the blood lost during treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation, which requires blood from healthy donors. In fact, the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center reports there is less than a two-day supply on shelves, which is why the Jankovsky family has helped the DPSOA host blood drives for the past few years. They know the importance of having clean blood for treatments and have strived to bring their community together to help solve this problem.

The Jankovsky family has exhibited perseverance and selflessness, and it is an honor to recognize this extraordinary family and their commitment to raise awareness of childhood cancer.

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