EVERETT — Reese Estes was diagnosed with cancer at the age of two.
Now at 10, she stood in front of the County Council on Tuesday “as a survivor,” she said.
“It means a lot to me and my family that our county is honoring kids like me and remembering those that are still fighting,” Reese said.
September is national Childhood Cancer Awareness month. Snohomish County has recognized the holiday at the local level since 2023 with a ceremony during a council meeting every year.
“We wanted to highlight the local connection,” council member Megan Dunn said in an interview after the meeting. Dunn brought the resolution forward after Reese’s father, Josh Estes, brought it to her attention. “It’s another way to engage and make sure that it’s top of mind for people so they can hear directly from impacted families.”
Dunn’s father, mother, sister and husband all had cancer at one point. The disease claimed her father.
“Cancer has touched a lot of families in the county,” she said during the meeting. “It’s just something that’s really special to me, and I’m proud that I can bring it forward.”
In Reese’s speech during the ceremony, she highlighted the importance of mental health and how cancer awareness helps make communication easier.
“It’s not only about curing cancer, it’s about healing from everything that comes with it,” Reese said. “It’s OK to talk about our feelings and struggles. I hope this month helps people understand that.”
Dunn hopes more awareness can help “reduce stigmatization around receiving help for mental health,” she said during the interview.
“I’m hesitant to even share my story. I think people feel like it could be a sign of weakness,” Dunn said. “You feel very lucky to have a clean bill of health, but then to realize that maybe your struggle is not over because you’re still dealing with the mental health struggles that come along with recovery.”
During the meeting, Reese’s sister, Ella Estes, talked about how she continues to be affected by her sister’s cancer. Now age 16, she was eight when Reese was diagnosed.
“You wouldn’t think it’s affected me as much as it has,” she said. “Sometimes I think, ‘What if it could come back?’ It’s nearly an everyday thought. It will affect me for the rest of my life; every day and every second.”
Along with mental health, Dunn said she hopes people become more aware of the financial burden cancer puts on families.
“Even when the treatment ends, the struggles don’t just stop,” Reese said. “There are doctor visits, worries and sometimes things that people don’t always see.”
A survey conducted by The National Children’s Cancer Society reported 10-15% of families were not poor at the time of diagnosis and became poor during treatment for their child’s cancer. Also, 1 in 4 families reported losing more than 40% of income as a result of treatment-related work disruption, not accounting for out-of-pocket expenses like travel.
“My husband had a very rare cancer,” Dunn said. “They opted for a less invasive surgery only offered on the East Coast, she said. “We had almost $30,000 in medical debt to take off work, to travel for two weeks.”
They ended up taking a second mortgage on their house, Dunn said. While the surgery was covered by insurance, the travel wasn’t, “so you just never know what you’re going to have to deal with.”
Ella also said, “You never know what could happen,” in her speech. All the more reason to speak more on childhood cancer and spread awareness, she said.
“Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is not just about raising money for research, but also making sure kids and families know they’re not alone,” Reese said.
Taylor Scott Richmond: 425-339-3046; taylor.richmond@heraldnet.com; X: @BTayOkay
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