Joseph Burken’s cancer treatment has ended, but Dance Marathon continues to support his family.
By Isabella Senno
Joseph Burken is a bright, outgoing 10-year-old who enjoys jazz dance, drumming, and overcoming the obstacles that come with a diagnosis of brain cancer.
Although his treatment has ended, Dance Marathon continues to provide a valuable support network for his family.
“I’ve never once walked into the playroom with Joseph and the dancers looked at him like he was weird. They embrace these kids no matter what they have,” said Julie Burken, Joseph’s mother. “Every time we’re with them, they put a smile on my kid’s face. For Joseph, I think the biggest thing was connecting to other people like him and trying to find inspiration from other people who have been through it.”
While on a vacation in July 2011, Joseph was diagnosed with an astrocytoma, a cancerous tumor in the center of his brain. He also suffered with a buildup of fluid inside his skull that led to brain swelling.
“He was very optimistic,” said Taylor McWilliams, Joseph’s cousin and previous Dance Marathon participant. “Even when he was having the worst days, he would joke around with people.”
The Burkens returned to Iowa City after Joseph was stabilized. They first heard about Dance Marathon during an appointment at the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital, now called the UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital, in August 2011. Within a few months, Dance Marathon worked to welcome the Burkens, focusing on helping to bring some cheer into the family’s lives.
“That December Joseph was hospitalized, I remember [Dance Marathon dancers] knocked and said they were playing in the playroom,” Burken said. “I went down, and our kids and the dancers had had a snowball fight inside with fake snow. The room was a mess, but they were all laughing and having fun. It really struck me.”
Beyond fundraising activities around the area, Dance Marathon has also partnered with Children’s Cancer Connection in order to put on annual summer camps for children with cancer and their siblings.
“Joseph has gone since 2012,” Burken said. “At camp, they can share their fears, they can connect with other people, they can get inspired by other campers. They’re not constantly reminded of their cancer; they’re having fun. The first year Joseph went to camp, he was only 6, and he was so different when we picked him up. He seemed so much more confident.”
The Burken family will attend this year’s Big Event on Friday, something that they all, especially Joseph, look forward to.
“The Big Event was probably one of the biggest emotional benefits for Joseph,” McWilliams said. “He gets super psyched about it, gets all dressed up, he loves seeing all the participants, going to the dance and dancing on stage.”
For the Burkens, the most important part of their Dance Marathon experience has been the relationships built over six years with the organization.
“It really feels like Dance Marathon is one big family,” Burken said. “There are so many dancers that you meet, other families that you begin to see at the events, and you get to know them, or at the Big Event you get to hear their stories. Sometimes, the siblings when you have a kid with cancer feel left out, but Dance Marathon really involves the whole family.”
These relationships run two ways, and the Burken family have affected some Dance Marathon participants.
“[Joseph] was my first experience with how Dance Marathon affects kids personally,” said Caley O’Brien, the current family representative for the Burkens. “I got to hear his story, and when I became a morale captain, I was utterly excited that I had them as my family. They inspire me all the time. Every time I go to an event and see them, it’s a reminder of why I’m doing what I’m doing. Seeing him come through everything is so inspiring, and he’s living a wonderful life.”
Even though Joseph is in remission, Dance Marathon will always remain a part of the Burkens’ lives.
“We’re super thankful for the support that they’ve given us, but the relationships are really what we’re in awe of,” Burken said. “I think it means more than any of the dancers will ever know, but it really makes a huge difference in a cancer journey to have them with us, beside us, and supporting us.”