3 annual events for pediatric blood and cancer care families in Austin

A heavy hospital door. An unfamiliar clinic room. A diagnosis no parent ever expects to hear.

Walking into a hospital with a sick child is often accompanied by fear and uncertainty. But at the Dell Children’s Blood and Cancer Center (CBCC) in Austin, Texas, care means more than medical treatment.

It means connection. It means community. It means bringing joy to families when they need it most.

Through the CBCC annual events, our pediatric blood and cancer care team is committed to giving our patients a space to just be kids. Within the last two years alone, the CBCC has hosted more than 40 special events, serving over 2,000 pediatric patients and families in Central Texas.

These milestones are made possible by incredible community partners, including Superhero Kids, B.I.G. Love Cancer Care, Beautifully Loved and the Phoenix Stone Foundation. Together, we host gatherings year-round, but three annual traditions stand at the heart of our mission.

Go Gray in May brings families together

A night of pure play and solidarity.

The CBCC hosted its annual Go Gray in May – Neuro-Oncology Family Night at Thinkery Austin museum. Held during Brain Tumor Awareness Month, the event brought patients, families and medical staff together to celebrate the strength of patients navigating brain and spine tumors.

Families and care teams—including Drs. Virginia Harrod, Sage Green, Raven Cooksey and Mohammed O. Iqbal—all wore gray to show their support.

Inside the museum, the clinic environment was left far behind. Children engineered sheet-and-pulley forts in the Fortastic Adventure zone, painted masterpieces in the Innovators’ Workshop and played chef at the Farmers’ Market. Laughter filled the room, alongside balloon artists and great food.

For parents, it was a vital space to breathe and connect with others walking the same path.

“It was very emotional, very touching," said Karla Quintiliani, whose child is a patient. "It was amazing seeing all the young heroes. You know it’s a long battle, but with the help of all the doctors and nurses, all the sacrifice was worth it.”

Survivor Day celebrates resilience

Every September, during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, the CBCC shines a light on the survival journey.

The main goal of Survivor Day is simple: celebrate the strength of our survivors of childhood cancer while connecting their families with local support networks.

The CBCC Survivorship Team is passionately involved in bringing this day to life. For the care team, every single detail matters.

“The cancer journey touches every facet of life for the individual patient as well as their family," said Raven Cooksey, MD, Director of the Pediatric Cancer Survivorship Clinic at Dell Children’s. "Survivorship begins on the day of diagnosis—the day that everything changes and is never the same. Taking a day to celebrate our survivors honors their strength, resilience and life beyond illness."

Dr. Cooksey notes that the event is an extension of the clinic's comprehensive approach to long-term care.

In September 2025, the community gathered in the Dell Children’s Medical Center Healing Garden for the first Survivor Day event. More than 180 survivors and families attended.

The garden came alive with family-friendly dance music from a favorite local DJ. Families enjoyed fresh soft-serve ice cream and visited booths hosted by dedicated community partners like Beautifully Loved, B.I.G. Love Cancer Care and the APHON Austin Chapter.

It was a beautiful reminder of life and community.

Holiday celebration brings joy

Some traditions become anchors for families during a storm.

The annual CBCC & Superhero Kids Patient and Family Holiday Celebration gives patients currently receiving blood or cancer care a chance to step away from the hospital environment and truly experience the magic of the holidays.

Here, families are surrounded by familiar faces from the CBCC community—caregivers they often see more frequently than their own classmates or friends.

The celebration features a catered meal, holiday dancing, face painting and photos with Santa Tim. Through a close partnership with the Wilks Foundation, every child receives a gift.

At the tables, community partners host seasonal art activities. Superhero Kids leads a fun nutcracker painting session, while the Phoenix Stone Foundation serves up a hot chocolate bar complete with every topping imaginable.

To our pediatric patients and their families, ending the year with holiday cheer is an important part of the healing process. Connection through community and resilience lived out loud is a testament to care simply being more than treatment.

Care centered in community

At Dell Children’s, caring for our pediatric patients means supporting the whole family—mind, body and spirit. Through these curated events, our pediatric hematology and oncology teams help ensure that no family walks this medical journey alone.

We are deeply grateful to the community we serve, and our teams are already eagerly planning our next celebration.

Learn more about our pediatric blood and cancer care programs.