BY PHIL CUSTODIO
Clarkston News Editor
Seven-year-old Guillianna and 5-year-old Elijah Nelson of Independence Township understand the sacrifices our troops make when serving their country – their parents Mackenzie and Tucker Nelson are both staff sergeants in the U.S. Army stationed in Korea.
“My husband (Rob) and I try hard to help them understand why mom and dad are not here,” said Lisa Cornfield, their caregiver during the deployment. “They’re learning to help people, like mom and dad help people.”
Both were previously deployed in Iraq twice and Tucker also served a tour in Afghanistan.
For Halloween, the children passed out candy at the Children’s Leukemia Foundation Trunk or Treat, Oct. 25, dressed in army camouflage like their parents.
“It was a nice beautiful day, so much fun,” Lisa said. “Mom and dad put on the uniform to help people too. This was a tangible way for them to help people of their own accord. They want to help. When they got home from Trunk or Treat, they understood the feeling of helping others. It feels good.”
Lisa Cornfield adopted Mackenzie and her four sisters from Romania when Mackenzie was 10. The Cornfield youth have sold lemonade to benefit the Children’s Leukemia Foundation of Michigan for many years. This year, the kids raised $200 and recently donated it to help CLF patients face their journey with cancer.
Lisa and Rob have been active with the foundation for almost 30 years. Rob’s parents were also active in the organization, which helped Lisa when her son, Nicholas, needed testing for a possible problem with his blood count.

“My son was fine, but it was tough to see all those kids,” she said.
The children and other volunteers passed out candy to about 100 kids attending the Oct. 25 event at Plymouth Orchard and Cider Mill, who otherwise would not be able to trick or treat.
“With compromised immune systems from treatment, children with leukemia are often unable to trick or treat in their neighborhoods,” said Heidi Grix, Children’s Leukemia Foundation president. “Trunk or Treat is just one way Children’s Leukemia Foundation provides compassionate, personalized support to adults and children affected by leukemia and other related blood disorders in Michigan.”
Volunteers like the Cornfield family are important in making connections with the community, said Maria Perwerton, development coordinator for the foundation.
“It’s excellent, what they are doing,” Perwerton said. “The connections keep the organization alive.”
Children’s Leukemia Foundation of Michigan is a statewide non-profit organization that provides disease and treatment education, social work based emotional support and financial assistance to adults and children affected by leukemia, lymphoma and other related blood disorders.
“Everybody I know who are using services are so grateful. They come through on their promises,” Lisa said. “They have so much compassion and outreach, and it’s stayed true to the foundation’s roots.”
The foundation provides educational resources, financial assistance, and emotional support to approximately 4,200 families across the state of Michigan, almost 1,800 of which live in Wayne, Oakland or Macomb County.
“Everything donated goes directly to CLF families. They help so many families. It’s such a great cause,” Lisa said. “If you feel sad about your circumstances or that life is not fair, it’s a good idea to realize how lucky we are compared to others and do something nice for someone else to take the focus off yourself. That’s how we get through.”
For more information, call 248-530-3000 or visit www.leukemiamichigan.org.