In the winter of 2002, Myles started earning “Bravery Beads”, through the Child Life Specialist program in the Hematology/Oncology/Immunology/Allergy Program. Each bead represented a specific procedure - the glow-in-the-dark beads represented each radiation treatment he'd received; the large wooden bead was for completion of chemotherapy; and the gold bead was for a surgical procedure he'd undergone. The necklace tells the whole story of his cancer treatment. To date Myles is on number 500, and growing. These beads have helped him to face his cancer and to stay strong, reflecting and holding on to his beads allows him to see how far he has come.
Annually, 300 children are newly diagnosed and 850 to 1,100 are treated in the Hematology/Oncology Program each year.