The first goal of Ivan and Sam is to offer to the child a coping mechanism during his fight against cancer.

Ivan and Sam wishes to create a 45-minute video which consists of a storyline of Ivan and Sam to introduce to the pediatric oncology world and to those children fighting the disease. All educational materials have been created with input from the physician, nursing and educational staffs at M.D. Anderson and Children’s Hospitals of Los Angeles and Cincinnati, as well as representatives of affected families.

The goal - To help the child in understanding the process of identifying the concept of having cancer, coping with the illness and identifying support from others, thus leading to an effort of making a difference in others as they grow into health and awareness of the disease. The video has been strategically planned as “television animated quality” which will serve in the future for other television outlets such as educational networks and Public Broadcast Networks.

Storyline: Ivan is an 8-year old baseball star, with future dreams of unlimited proportions when along with his canine sidekick, Sam, and best friend Crissy, Ivan learns he has cancer, how to deal with the effects and how to function day to day. The video tells a modified version of a true story of a family from Columbus, Ohio, whose son was stricken with cancer at age one. The video topics include:

Topics Addressed:


  Topic 1 - “Im A Kid! I Can’t Have Cancer!”
A discovery of the meaning of the word “cancer.” Ivan learns from his doctor that he has a disease called cancer. Doctor Jill teaches the duo how cancer forms and what kinds of treatments are available for doctors and patients to fight the disease together. Ivan begins to learn to there are friends around him for support.

  Topic 2 - The Hospital Visit
Ivan meets the treating hospital staff, learns the importance of their jobs, discovers their role in his healing process, and undergoes his first treatment and possible side effects. This segment also addresses going home and the treatment schedule to follow.

  Topic 3 - “I Feel So Left Out!”
Ivan and his friends addresses chemotherapy effects, the I.V unit, and hair loss. Ivan & Sam learn about the acceptance of looking different from their friends. This segment addresses the loss of weight and strength. This segment addresses Ivan’s inability to function normally due to his illness and the frustration that he has. Ivan is unable to participate in the everyday social life of a child. All of his friends are going on with life, while he must stay at home.

  Topic 4 -It’s Okay To Talk About Cancer
Ivan and Sam feel it is important addresses the sensitivity of friendship. Ivan & Sam help to educate their friends on life with cancer and the treatments involved. It also helps address limitations children with cancer have at this stage in the healing process. 

  Topic 5 -Ivan Has a Birthday
Ivan & Sam begin to understand how important life is and how every day is more important than the day before. Ivan returns to school and finds out that he has always been accepted and loved and, although he may have missed out on a few things over the last year, that his true friends are still very much a part of his life. School is fun again.

  Topic 6 -The Home Run
In closing, Ivan plays his first baseball game since his diagnosis. This addresses self confidence and returning to a normal life after fighting the disease. Ivan also begins a new journey of faith, strength, and hope, understanding that faith in oneself is the most important battle to win. He overcomes his self-doubt and hits a game-winning home run in the ninth inning.

While this video will be primarily for children fighting cancer and distributed into hospitals accordingly, the video will be created on an animated level for television where we can cross market into other entertainment avenues.


Project Distribution

Project materials will be distributed to approximately 200 pediatric oncology units in the United States and Canada. In partnership with Padres Contra El Cancer, we will ensure that a proportion of the units will be produced in Spanish to support Latino families facing pediatric cancer. Secondary distribution points will include cooperating churches, community civic organizations. schools, and libraries. This avenue will expand along with increased fund-raising success. Project materials will also be promoted and distributed through the internet via the Ivan and Sam web site, www.ivanandsam.org.