In September, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, we draw worldwide attention to children with cancer. At the Princess Máxima Center, we want to give children not only the best treatment, but also the chance to live as normal a life as possible and continue to develop, despite their illness. Because getting better is more than curing. For us, getting better also means innovating and continuously working on new perspectives for cure. In research, in care, and in collaboration. Our staff contribute to this every single day. They share what they themselves want to get better at – and how their work makes a direct difference for children and families. Discover their stories.
Tirza guides children and families with great care. She supports them through medical procedures, examinations and difficult moments. Her goal: helping children and parents experience that, step by step, they gain more control – both at the Máxima and at home. Tirza wants to get better at making even stronger use of the resilience within every child and family. What makes her work truly special are the small, valuable moments with children and families. A spontaneous compliment or a gesture of trust motivates her to make a difference, time and again. On busy days, Tirza finds new energy in a cup of coffee and a laugh with her colleagues.
For Seok, everything revolves around curiosity and innovation. In the laboratory, he grows mini-tumors, testing treatments to find new options for children with rare forms of cancer. His work brings hope in situations where options are sometimes limited. He wants to get better at both developing and carrying out innovative ideas, so better treatments can become available more quickly. Seok’s motivation comes from curiosity and the drive to discover something no one has ever known before – and translate that into knowledge that can help children. He gains energy from successful experiments and exchanges with colleagues. He is proud that he has been able to adapt to the Dutch lab culture in such a short time and feels at home in his team.
Stephanie stands alongside children and parents in one of the most challenging times of their lives. She administers medication and carries out check-ups but also creates space for games and a listening ear. She guides children and parents through difficult conversations: honest, hopeful, and tailored to every age. Stephanie wants to get better at these conversations, so families feel supported by their nurse. The resilience of children motivates Stephanie every single day. She finds it special to be so closely involved during such an intensive period. She draws new energy from a child’s smile, a parent’s look of relief, or the teamwork with her colleagues.
Akshaya investigates how the immune system can be trained to better treat brain tumors in children. Her drive lies in the close connection between research and the clinic: every day, she sees how her work can directly contribute to better treatments. She wants to get better at training immune cells, so that children with brain tumors will have more and better treatment options in the future. What drives Akshaya is precisely that connection between science and the clinic. Every day, she is reminded of the direct impact her work can have on children. Short conversations with colleagues – and a good cup of coffee – give her fresh energy.
