ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley celebrated the expansion of its headquarters Wednesday with the opening of The Family Room, a newly expanded space designed to provide additional support and programming for families navigating childhood cancer.

Michelle Zenie Rounds, executive director of the Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley, said the organization currently serves about 450 families within a 50-mile radius of Allentown.

For Carissa Gross and her family, the foundation became a vital source of support.

“He was diagnosed with a stage three yolk sac tumor… It was really scary to find out your 18-month-old has cancer,” Gross said.

Gross said she first learned about the Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley through a friend whose son had also been diagnosed with cancer.

The expansion of The Family Room includes additional storage space, a larger toy room for children and a multipurpose gathering area for programs and events.

“That big communal multi-purpose space that allows us to do all the programming that really makes a difference for the family,” said Michelle Zenie Rounds.

Zenie Rounds said the organization offers more than 25 programs and services designed to help families manage the challenges that come with a pediatric cancer diagnosis.

“Those families are everywhere between diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and also, unfortunately, sometimes bereavement. We just really provide everything you can think of outside of the medical treatment. We have over 25 different programs and services that help them in this journey,” she said.

According to Zenie Rounds, The Family Room will allow the foundation to expand programming for children while also giving parents a place to connect with others facing similar circumstances.

“It really makes you feel like you’re not alone in everything. I’m extremely grateful for everything that PCFLV has done for our family,” Gross said.

For many families, the foundation becomes a second home, and Zenie Rounds says one of the most rewarding experiences is welcoming back children who have successfully completed treatment.

Jameson is among those success stories and has been cancer-free for more than two years.