A Lion in the House - Local Events
In association with the documentary A Lion in the House, airing on KLRU in June, KLRU has convened a group of community partners to to raise awareness about childhood cancer and the resources available in Central Texas. Initiatives include: a summit of local organizations, a local documentary on Austin Now, a statewide conference of professionals in June, and a local telephone support line when the documentary airs June 21 and 22. See below for details about the events.
Events
Event Details
Local Telephone Support Line
June 21 & June 22, 8-10 pm
The stunning, heartbreaking and heartwarming footage captured in the documentary A Lion in the House will evoke questions. To help answer viewers’ questions about childhood cancer and related local resources, KLRU is setting up a local telephone support line with professionals ready to take calls during the airing of the program. Lines will be open on June 21 and June 22, 8-10 p.m. Watch the screen for the phone number.
Preview Screening
June 18 - Alamo Drafthouse/South Lamar
The Alamo Drafthouse/South Lamar will screen a full-length theatrical version of A Lion in the House on Sunday, June 18, 1-5 pm. Organizations that have participated in the local Initiative on Childhood Cancer will have resource materials available.
Preview Screening
June 13 in Austin
In Austin’s A Lion in the House Initiative on Childhood Cancer, two community partners – The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and The Children’s Hospital of Austin – planned a screening and discussion of excerpts of the PBS documentary series. More than 80 people attended the event held in the Boyd Vance Theatre of the George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center.
The ABC’s of Childhood Cancer Survivorship Conference
June 9 – 10, 2006, in Austin
A statewide conference hosted by the Physician Oncology Education Program (POEP)
Upon seeing early excerpts from A Lion in the House 18-months ago, the POEP staff knew this was a documentary series that would have a tremendous impact on its viewers. POEP is known for its work in providing physicians and those in training to become physicians with the knowledge and skills necessary to reduce cancer morbidity and mortality. The decision was made to convene a statewide conference on childhood cancer – a first for POEP on this topic – that would highlight the film as a springboard to discussion.
On June 9, a dinner and panel discussion focused on the PBS documentary, A Lion in the House. After a brief excerpt from the film, filmmaker Steven Bognar shared his experiences over the seven years in making and editing the film. Regina Fields, one of the parents in the film, and Dr. Fred Huang, a pediatric oncologist in the film, then talked about facing the uncertainties of young Al Fields’ cancer, and doing it while on camera. Other panelists shared personal experiences and community impact.
For a full day on June 10, conference topics for the physicians and other medical professionals in attendance included medical complications in childhood cancer survivors, a model of care for survivors, the current state of the art of childhood cancer therapy, and psychological and family support during care.
The Austin Summit on Childhood Cancer
May 12 in Austin
The Austin Summit on Childhood Cancer was held in KLRU studios on Friday, May 12, 2006. It was hosted by KLRU and developed by community planning partners from 14 organizations.
The goal of the summit was to maximize collaboration among all those working with Central Texas families touched by childhood cancer in order to expand access to local services. Among the 54 persons attending were health professionals, social workers, representatives of cancer-related organizations, educators, and others serving children or teens with cancer and their families.
Two major topics were addressed during the four-hour session. First a panel of professionals addressed “Increased Access to Care and Support in Underserved Groups,” speaking specifically of gaps in and barriers to local services for children with cancer. Then a local pediatric oncologist spoke of “Survivorship – Life After Cancer.” Small group discussions followed each presentation and Next Steps were defined in the closing session.
At the conclusion of the summit, a consensus was reached to formalize a Central Texas Pediatric and Adolescent Cancer Care Coalition. Also discussed were ideas that address the needs of the underserved populations and the needs of survivors.
