Superhero helps kids with cancer

AUSTIN (KXAN) - When a child is diagnosed with cancer, it can be tough - not only emotionally for the entire family but also financially.

However, there's a new organization that's helping provide a better quality of life, and they need the public’s help.

Elizabeth is a 6-year-old who isn't like most kids when it comes to going to the doctor.

"Ahh, I think it's fun," said Elizabeth.

She calls it fun, even though for the last year-and-a-half she's been coming to Dell Children's Medical Center for chemo treatments.

"She was all set to go to kindergarten when she just passed out one day and had been very healthy until that moment, and within 6 hours we found out our very healthy child had leukemia," said Elizabeth's mother, Alison.

Life quickly changed for the family, and they decided one of them had to stay home to care for Elizabeth.

"It was about a 65 percent decrease in our income, which was not an expected thing," her mother said.

After seeing this happen to family after family, hospital volunteers John and Samia Joseph decided they needed to do something. They set up a nonprofit called Super Hero Kids to raise money for rent, transportation and clothes.

"Quality of life, things that make the journey through the program a little bit easier on the families and the children," said John, Super Hero Kids Founder.

Right now, the couple is trying to raise money for families that are helping their child deal with cancer. And despite how sad it is for a child to even have to be diagnosed with cancer, it's actually inspiring to those who are around it.

"You know, you would think it would be tough watching the kids go through the program, but what has motivated Samia and me is seeing how brave these children are," said John. "And that's what inspired the name 'Super Hero Kids' because these kids are superheroes."

"She's just a regular 6 1/2-year-old planning for her next birthday party," said Alison.

And if the Super Hero fund has anything to do with it, she'll have a great seventh birthday.

So far, the couple has raised $50,000 for family's who have a child dealing with cancer.