dream PROGRAMS

The Dream Scholarship is for those affected by SCD and other Rare Disease, their siblings and parents looking to achieve a higher education. The Dream Scholarship is also available to medical students in Nevada as well as Public Health students as an incentive to advocate and practice in the field of hematology, oncology, genetic, and Rare Diseases.

* Scholarship amounts may vary from year to year with a minimum of $500*

There are 7,000 Rare Diseases which affect 30 million Americans. Sickle Cell Disease and Childhood Cancer are just two of the thousands of Rare Diseases affecting Americans. We work to ado things like send Rare Kids to camps, Support caregivers, participate in national Rare Disease advocacy events and initiatives, offer scholarships, create literature to educate the Nevada's community on Rare Diseases. 

 The purpose of the Dream Teens Transition Program is to educate patients that will be moving from pediatric healthcare to adult care providing the information, tools, and resources to navigate adult healthcare to effectively manage their health outcomes in the most fatal period for patients with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). Dreamsickle will provide a 4 to 6 week transition course, complete with graduation , that will include a mock doctor check in and visit so that young patients learn how to set and check in for a doctor’s appointment, how to complete new patient form, how to understand insurance and the benefits that come with it, understanding which doctors are for what on their care team, how to lodge a complaint against a doctor, nurse, or entire hospital, the meaning of informed consent, how to advocate for one’s self, what community health worker or patient advocates role is as it pertains to assisting patients with SCD , what medication they take, why and the dose amount, current available therapies to treat SCD. To effectively execute this program, medical staff assistance is needed for mock days, purchasing of some equipment and supplies commonly found in doctors’ offices will be necessary, funding for hospital / clinic field trips if CDC/COVID19 guidelines permit.  

Patients with Sickle Cell and other Rare Diseases often rely on caregivers to support them in managing their health from parents, grandparents, siblings and spouses. Dreamsickle Kids wants to acknowledge and support caregivers as they are the biggest support system for those battling Sickle Cell and other Rare Diseases. Caregivers experience many changes when they assume the role to take care of and support their loved one with a chronic illness from financial changes such as job loss, mental and emotional challenges, familial hardships. We strive to provide a support system for caregivers to better manage stress and to practice selfcare along with supporting financially when needed. We strive to provide gifts to our adult caregivers at events and to ensure gifts are tailored to benefit caregivers from health and wellness certificates to vacations.