The Power of a Toy: What It Meant to My Son in Cancer Treatment and Why It Still Matters Today

Maxwell's Journey
Written By Dina Besic

💛 From a Mom Who’s Lived It:

When Max was first diagnosed and in the hospital, I remember the silence in the room. Nurses were moving quickly. Oncologists are coming into the room. Social workers are checking in on us. Dietitians coming in. The door never stopped. The machines were beeping. Kids are crying in the other rooms, and parents are with their heads in their hands. I didn’t hear my usual sweet boy's laughter, singing his favorite nursery songs he learned. It was just quiet.

Then a child life therapist handed Max a toy. A yellow Cocomelon school bus, to be exact.

And for the first time that day, my sweet boy smiled. He wanted to play. He wanted to be out of bed and just play with his mama and dada, like he does at home. It wasn’t just about the toy — it was about being seen. About something just for him, not because of cancer, but in spite of it. He was only 2 years old. That moment mattered.

It mattered so much. I built a nonprofit around it.

🎁 Why Toys Are More Than Just Toys:

For a child in treatment, a toy isn’t “extra.” It’s an escape. It’s comfort. It’s control in a world where everything is decided for them.

Here’s what a toy can do:

  • Distraction During Chemo: Watching your toddler get poked with a needle while he plays with a new train car changes the entire experience.

  • Restoration of Normalcy: Toys remind kids that they’re still kids — not just patients.

  • Emotional Comfort: Something to hold. Something to build. Something they chose. That autonomy matters.

  • Connection: A sibling plays too. A parent joins in. Suddenly, cancer takes a back seat — even if just for 10 minutes.

They reconnect a child to their imagination, their identity, and their joy.

🧡 If You Know a Family in Treatment:

You may not know what to say. And that’s okay. You don’t need the perfect words. Sometimes the best support is simple.

Here’s how you can help:

  • Send a small toy with a short note: “Saw this and thought of [Name]. Hope it brings a smile.”

  • Ask the parents what their child loves right now — and stick to that.

  • Focus on giving something light, small, portable, easy to clean, and comforting.

  • Think about low-energy toys. Toys that are great and easy to have while they are in bed.

Toys remind kids they’re still kids.

That’s not a small thing — it’s everything.

Final Words:

I don’t remember every lab result. But I remember Max driving a toy train across the windowsill while getting chemo. I remember him laughing in a room that wasn’t built for laughter. I remember how one small toy brought him back to life — if only for a moment. That’s the power of a toy.

Until the next one.

Sending so much love and prayer.

Dina
Mom, Founder & Childhood Cancer Advocate 💛

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Dina Besic
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