Angel

Angel – 4 Y/O Fighting Brain Cancer Father Laid Off While Trying to Support Family of 10

The Jessica June Children’s Cancer Foundation (JJCCF) is receiving tax-deductible donations in honor of Angel.

Online:Donate in honor of Angel

Story:

Angel, 4 Y / O, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital
Angel was diagnosed with Brain Cancer in August of 2010. After Angel’s diagnosis, his mother was placed on disability due to a high risk pregnancy. JJCCF’s Financial Assistance Program paid for the family’s rent, electrical and water bills.

JJCCF’s family visiting volunteer James DeAnda met with family in February delivering hope, love compassion and emergency financial assistance. Angel’s father was recently laid off from his job of five years as a mechanic due to budget cuts. Mother returned to work early after having her 3 lbs baby born prematurely to keep her household of 10 afloat. Family is unable to make ends meet during this dreadful time.

Needs:

For the next couple of months while Angel is receiving cancer treatment, this family will need financial assistance to pay for their rent and light bills.

Message from Social Worker, 4/5/11:

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing this letter on behalf of patient Angel Nazario, D.O.B 03/01/2007, who is a male with a Hypothalamic Glioma, a form of brain tumor, diagnosis. He is treated at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital where he has undergone surgery and is now currently receiving chemotherapy treatments on a regular basis. It is a single parent income as mom has had to take a leave of absence from work due to Angel’s intense medical schedule and necessary care. Angel’s mom is returning to work after the premature birth of Angel’s sister Isabella. The baby spent several weeks in NICU before being able to be at home with Angel and the family.

Angel has gone through a lot with his diagnosis and treatments so far. Angel and his mom routinely come to the hospital as he continues to receive treatment at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Division of Pediatric Oncology. I highly recommend this family for financial assistance as they are a family in great financial need and are truly humbled by any type of support.

If you need any other information, please do not hesitate to contact me at 954-265-6369.

Sincerely,
Elisa Jones
Pediatric Oncology Child Life Specialist

Plea from Father, 03/29/11:

Good afternoon this email is to update you about Angel Nazario, we received the results from he’s last MRI last week that shows the chemo is slowly shrinking his brain tumor, we just had a new baby named Isabella that was born at 32 weeks and 3.1 pounds, she spend one month on the hospital do to her size and weight, now she is home with us and gaining weight, she is 5.9 pounds this week, my wife started to work earlier because i lost my job of 5 years recently do to budget cuts and i have not been able to find another job yet, as you know is not easy for us to keep up with all the bills and expenses but we have to do our best to keep everything rolling, we have seen some improvement on Angel, he will continue with the treatment and we still don’t know if he will have another surgery in the future, for now we live day by day with the hope this will be over some day and we can live a normal life again, thanks for all your help and support.

Jorge Nazario

Testimonial from Parent, 03/7/11:

August 28, 2010 after 3 weeks of taking my son to the pediatrician several times on an act of desperation I decided to take my 3 year old son to a different doctor for a second opinion, this time the doctor asked us what was our concern and I explained to him that he wasn’t eating, he has lost 10 pounds in 3 weeks and he was very quiet and sleeping a lot. He agreed that even through all the blood tests came back clean that something terrible was going on. He called Joe DiMaggio Hospital and sent us to their facility after a CT scan, we were told that our son had a massive brain tumor that was causing all the symptoms he was having. Three days later he had brain surgery and soon after another surgery to put a BP shunt to help him drain fluids from his brain.  I could not work due to the condition of our son and basically spent all our savings we had, then we heard about the Jessica June Foundation. We were contacted by a gentleman named James and we set up a meeting with him, during that meeting he told us his story with cancer he also explained what the Jessica June Foundation has done for a lot of other families that are going through similar situations like us, soon after he gave us some checks to help pay for bills we were behind on.  Nobody has ever done anything for me or my family like this before, this has been the most difficult thing I have ever endured in my life. Today March 7^th 2011 we still fight this illness, our son Angel is now 4 years old, we have a long road ahead of us but have no fear in my heart, we will win this battle with God guiding us. Not easy but not impossible. Thank you so much Jessica June Foundation, Jorge Nazario

Angel with JJCCF volunteers & staff

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