| inspiration The Kalmans v. neuroblastoma The power of love may be what it takes to find a cure. Calli Kalman and Frank Kalman founders of Kids’ Cancer Research Foundation 14 | slo life magazine
There is a sadness that permeates Frank Kalman. It is not obvious when you first meet him, but if you know his story, you will understand why he struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder. Nine years ago when his daughter, Calli, was 12 years old, she was diagnosed with a very rare cancer called neuroblastoma. This type of cancer afflicts approximately 700 American children each year. “The euphemism that parents whose children were diagnosed with this disease use is to say that ‘Jenny earned her angel wings today’ when they share the news that their child passed,” Frank explains as his eyes well up with tears and his voice cracks with emotion. He collects himself with a long, deep breath and continues. “There was this one Friday about six months ago when we learned that three kids had earned their wings, and that’s when I said ‘I’ve got to do something.’” By this time, Frank had “pressed every button and pulled every lever” to get the best care possible for Calli and had become uniquely qualified to help other families going through the same thing. “I have developed this huge amount of knowledge about the disease and the treatments and the whole process, and I want to put it to good use. There are just so many people we can help.” With that resolve, the Kids’ Cancer Research Foundation was recently formed [more information about the organization can be found on the web at www.endkidscancer.org]. The list of people involved with the foundation is impressive and reads like a “Who’s Who List” of cancer researchers, but, mostly, it serves as a testament to Kalman’s dogged persistence and hard-earned credibility. Kalman recalls his chance meeting with one key board member, Christopher Kennedy Lawford. “We were walking through a shop in Santa Monica, wasting time between chemo appointments for Calli, who was so sick and completely bald, when I recognize Chris. So, I go up to him and make a comment about a movie he was in. He was so gracious, and he and his wife spent a half an hour or so talking with Calli.” A friendship blossomed, and Lawford continued to follow up with Calli to inquire about her treatments and played a vital role in clearing up a “major problem” while she was at the Sloan- Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. According to Kalman, “I was just at my lowest point and the treatment wasn’t going well at all, and we were caught up in some red tape. Anyway, right about then Chris called to ask how we were doing and I told him ‘not well’ and he said, ‘Look, I will call my mom [JFK’s sister, Patricia], she used to work there. And, if that doesn’t help, I’ll call Uncle Teddy [the late Senator Ted Kennedy]. Don’t worry - we’ll get it figured out.’ It was like this guy just walked in out of the blue and said, ‘I have an atomic bomb, where do you want me to deliver it?’” Despite the big names that Kalman has lined up, he cites the support that his daughter has received from the people of San Luis Obispo as being the most important to them. “Our friends and neighbors held a fundraising event a while back at the Fremont Theater where they screened Calli’s favorite movie, “Remember the Titans.” I remember there was this unassuming looking college kid who walked up and wrote a check and walked right back out. We saw that type of thing over and over again. I mean, over a thousand people turned out to support my daughter. I’ll never forget that.” Today, as Kalman launches his new foundation, Calli’s cancer has returned. She continues her chemotherapy treatments while also attending Cal Poly as a 21-year-old junior. One gets the sense, however, that we have not heard the last from this inspirational father-daughter team. Says Kalman, “We’re looking at this foundation like Edison and his light bulb. It would be bold of me to say that we’re going to find a cure for this cancer, but the more research we can fund, the closer we get to getting it done.” <strong>SLO</strong> <strong>LIFE</strong> Do you have an inspirational story to share? Go to slolifemagazine.com and tell us about it. slo life magazine | 15
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