Charna’s Story

Transforming Grief into a ‘Gift of Sunshine and Hope’

The grief experienced by a bereaved parent is perhaps the most intense grief ever known.  Only those with the strongest of character can transform their own devastation into a gift of solace for others. Such is the case with Arlene and Larry Radbell, the parents of Charna Radbell, along with their other daughter, Nicole Rabin.

Nearly 15 years ago, Arlene and Larry’s beloved daughter, Charna, was diagnosed with colon cancer.  This diagnosis was shocking to her doctors and to the entire family as she was a twenty eight year old, healthy and vibrant woman, and colon cancer is a disease that is typically found in men over the age of fifty.

Charna fought a courageous eight year battle with cancer. Although it was often a very painful experience, she never refused to surrender, believing that the time she had left was precious. Therefore, she lived her life accordingly. She traveled the world, she continued to enjoy special evenings at the theater, and she delighted in the company and love of her family and friends. Even when her life became more limited due to the increasingly intensive levels of required health care, she always felt very fortunate for the joyful moments, experiences and memories. Charna was grateful for every day.

At the end of her life, Charna made it her mission to establish a foundation that would help other families in dealing with the stress and grief associated with the terminal illness of a young family member.  Through the Charna Radbell Foundation, the Radbell Family has been able to carry on Charna’s legacy to provide a “Gift of Sunshine and Hope” to families whose lives revolve around the devastating effects of a child’s medical treatments and hospitalization.

One of the Radbell Family’s proudest accomplishments was establishing Charna’s Kids Club at the Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital which helps care for the physical and mental well being of a patient’s entire family, particularly the school-aged brothers and sisters of chronically ill patients. Under the guidance of experienced social workers, this program provides therapeutic and recreational support which allows siblings to express their feelings and to be surrounded by a network of peers in similar circumstances. Additionally, Charna’s Kids Club sponsors seasonal events and celebrations during each holiday season, giving families the opportunity to celebrate together at their ‘home away from home.’  

Charna’s Kids Club has become such an integral part of the Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital that it is not uncommon to overhear children asking their parents, “When can we go to the Kids Club?” Arlene Radbell notes that it is “wonderful to hear the excitement and enthusiasm in their voices.”

Larry Radbell says that Charna’s Kids Club has “turned out better than we had thought possible,” and credits the support of NewYork-Presbyterian administration and staff for sharing their vision. “When a parent says to me, ‘This program has saved my sanity,’ we know that we’ve accomplished our goal to help these families,” he adds.

The Radbell Family wholeheartedly believes that Charna’s Kids Club will continue to grow and hopes to further honor Charna’s memory by establishing similar sibling support programs at other children’s hospitals throughout the country. 

Learn more about this incredibly wonderful, brave and generous woman, Charna, from her parents, Arlene and Larry Radbell.

"And the song, from beginning to end, I found in the heart of a friend."

"Friends are the sunshine of life."