Iowa Families Push $3M Bill for Kids' Cancer Research

When Kristi Polonsky's son Jack beat cancer in sixth grade, their family celebrated. But weeks after his 15th birthday, the cancer returned and took his life.

Now Polonsky joins other Iowa families asking state lawmakers to pass House File 2310, which would provide $3 million for pediatric cancer research at the University of Iowa. Only seven states currently fund this research, and Iowa isn't among them.

The families say children deserve better than what they're getting now. Seven-month-old Devyn Kaas received the exact same leukemia treatment her great-great-uncle got in 2001 when he was 81 years old.

"There has been no changes," said Devyn's father, Scott Kaas. His daughter, now cancer-free for two years, was considered a miracle baby born to parents told they couldn't have children.

The harsh adult treatments come with lasting costs. Isabelle Ireland beat a rare ovarian cancer at age 16, but the therapy left her 60% deaf with several health complications she manages daily.

"I am constantly fighting, every single day," Ireland said. She's two months away from being five years cancer-free, the milestone that officially makes her a survivor.

The Ripple Effect

The bill passed unanimously out of a House subcommittee on Wednesday, showing strong support across party lines. House Speaker Pat Grassley told reporters the caucus backs the measure, though final approval depends on budget negotiations between the House, Senate, and governor.

For families who've watched their children endure treatments designed for adults, the $3 million investment represents hope for future kids facing similar diagnoses. Better research could mean treatments that work without stealing childhoods or leaving survivors with lifelong complications.

Jack Polonsky knew he wouldn't survive his cancer battle. Before he died, he asked his mother to be a voice for other kids fighting the disease.

"This bill would give children their childhoods back," Ireland said, echoing Jack's final wish as lawmakers decide whether Iowa will become the eighth state to fund pediatric cancer research.