Save the animals or save the kids

Did you know that the U.S. government funded $1.7 billion to conserve endangered and threatened species under the Endangered Species Act? That money is divided into various sections: buying habitats and land to help conserve the ecosystem, as well as taking censuses of the animals through research. On top of that, the U.S. government also uses the funding to focus money on specific species that are close to extinction. An example of an expenditure on an animal is the lovely Steelhead trout. This species of fish has received funding of more than $263 million. Now how would you feel if I told you that childhood cancer is only funding approximately $180 million, and around $26.4 million of that was for pediatric clinical trials? An astounding $80 million approximately less than the funding towards endangered and threatened species.

To continue, not only does childhood cancer not get any funding, it seems like no one wants to deal with it. In 20 years, the FDA has initially approved only two drugs for any childhood cancer. Not to mention the outdated treatment methods. One-half of all chemotherapies used for children’s cancers is over 25 years old. 25 YEARS OLD! In 25 years, medicine has changed so much, yet we are giving “the future of America” outdated treatments. Within the last 25 years, we’ve managed to go from block phones to cellphones that track where we are, can tell us our vitals and tell us news about a country thousands of miles away. How come we haven’t showed anywhere the amount of progression in the field of childhood cancer?

So many people reading this would probably like to bring up the fact there are a number of organizations that are nonprofit and charities that raise money for childhood cancer. Well to you I bring up the millions of “Save the Pandas” or “Save the jackalopes” that exists. Even with these nonprofits and charities, the money still isn’t coming through. St. Baldrics, which is an organization that relies solely on pledges of people who cut or shave their hair off, could only fund 21.2 million of the 29.9 million that was needed for grants.

Additionally, I don’t know if you’ve ever been in a children’s hospital but it is the saddest place that one could be in. There are kids hooked up to machines that are missing out on the beauty of growing up, going to school, and going on vacations with they’re families. Growing up, I was always making trips to Miami Children’s Hospital and even though everything is painted bright colors and in the distance you hear kids giggling because they received their Wish, it is still a hospital. It’s still painful and it still takes a toll on kids.

Kids, who are said to be the future of America and the world. Then why are we not giving them a chance? Does it seem right to be trying to save a species of fish or animal when 1 in 3 kids are being diagnosed with cancer? I’m not saying we shouldn’t save the Earth and all of it’s critters but our little cousins, nieces nephews and deserve the greatest care and treatment our nation can offer.