In late September, Megan Webber, Co-Founder of KnowTheGlow, and Kait Weber, retinoblastoma parent and KTG volunteer, met with Amanda Van Wagner. Amanda, a mother herself, is a trailblazer in a new role that is beginning to gain recognition for the profound difference it can make for families facing childhood cancer, Resource Navigator.
When a child is diagnosed, families are suddenly immersed in a whirlwind of appointments, treatments, and fear of the unknown. While the medical team focuses on saving a child’s life, parents are left grappling with practical but overwhelming questions. Where will we stay during treatment? How will we cover expenses? What about the siblings at home?
That is where Amanda steps in. As a Resource Navigator for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF), her work centers on easing these burdens. She connects families to financial and emotional support resources, travel assistance, and sibling support, always aiming to lift some of the weight parents carry.
“When a family reaches out and needs something we don’t offer,” Amanda shared, “I’m not just going to say, ‘Try this other organization.’ I’ll make the connection, gather the details, and help them take the next step. Families already have so much going on. They shouldn’t have to spend their nights Googling and calling around for help.”
Amanda understands that needs evolve as treatment continues. What begins with financial help for travel might later shift to school resources, grief counseling, or support for siblings. “It really does come full circle,” she explained. Her steady presence ensures that families never have to navigate those changes alone.
She also partners with hospital social workers, who can benefit from her expertise of available resources. By gathering background information and preparing paperwork in advance, Amanda helps make sure families can move forward without delay.
Her path to this role was a natural one. Before joining ALSF, Amanda spent more than eight years at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia as a Child Life Specialist, including four years in the NICU where she often worked with children undergoing ROP exams. That experience deepened her understanding of how illness affects an entire family and reinforced the importance of Child Life services.
Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation provides direct care through many programs.Through the Travel For Care program, ALSF helps cover the costs of flights, gas, and lodging so families can reach treatment or clinical trials that might otherwise be out of reach. The SuperSibs program supports brothers and sisters between the ages of 4 and 18, sending activities, encouragement, and thoughtful gifts over two years. For those grieving the loss of a sibling, a dedicated track offers comfort and care. Families are also invited to share their stories as part of ALSF’s Community Engagement work, transforming personal journeys into powerful tools for awareness and change. To make connections even easier, ALSF is developing a new online directory where families can search by location, language, or treatment stage.
For parents, the diagnosis itself is overwhelming. Amanda’s role ensures that finding help doesn’t have to be. By listening, guiding, and doing much of the legwork herself, she gives families the space to focus on what matters most—their child.
Kait shared how ALSF supported her own family, inspiring her to give back through fundraising for nearly a decade. She recently helped establish the Foresight Fund alongside another retinoblastoma mother through ALSF, a testament to the lasting impact of this organization’s support.
At KnowTheGlow, we believe early detection is the first step. After diagnosis, families need the kind of practical, ongoing support that Amanda and ALSF so thoughtfully provide. After meeting Amanda, Megan Webber was deeply encouraged by the potential of this role to meet families exactly where they are and when they need it most. KTG is proud to share Amanda’s story and to highlight the extraordinary work of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.
