During this holiday season, please consider contributing to families trying to focus on their child’s survival while struggling to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. Just $1 dollar will make a difference for Karyna, Elodie, Antonique, DeMario & Joerie during the upcoming holidays. Your contributions will add up to make a significant impact in the lives of these 5 children & their family members (20 individuals). Your support will make a difference!
The needs for these families fighting childhood cancer exceed the Jessica June Children’s Cancer Foundation (JJCCF) limited resources to assist them. JJCCF has already provided each family with emergency financial assistance representing basic human needs which is significant, but not sufficient. We hope you will never discover every parent’s nightmare: “Your Child has Cancer”. Realize that no parent prepares for a childhood cancer diagnosis and the financial consequences thereafter faced. As an advocate for these children, I am reaching out for outside urgent support (YOUR HELP) so that these families can survive a temporary crisis.
Giving gift cards for food / gas or a tax-deductible donation would make a significant difference. If you have any suggestions or questions, please contact me at (954)593-5603 or [email protected] .For more information about JJCCF’s impactful mission, visit our new website at www.JJCCF.org.
Their Individual Stories:
1) Karyna, 13 Y/O, Miami Children’s Hospital
Karyna was diagnosed with Leukemia in April 2011. Since her diagnosis, she has been hospitalized at least 6 times, and has been receiving aggressive chemotherapy. During the time Karyna was hospitalized, her mother Maria did not moved from her bedside and consequently was laid off from work. Maria is the sole breadwinner for her family of three; they do not receive help from Karyna’s father who is incarcerated. Mother is currently behind on her rent, phone, and water bills and has not been able to buy her eldest daughter school supplies for her senior year in high school.
-Quote from Hospital Social Worker: “The patient’s mother has been head of household for several years. She is a hard worker, who never neglected her job duties, working from the hospital while Karyna was hospitalized. Unfortunately, last week Ms. Gonzalez was laid off by her employer”READ MORE
2) Elodie, 8 Y/O, Broward General Medical Center
Elodie was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma (stage IV) in April 2011. Since, she has been receiving aggressive chemotherapy and is scheduled for a bone marrow transplant. Elodie’s stepmother is the family’s only emotional and financial support, but she has not been able to work normal hours and has had to take time off from work to care for Elodie. Father is currently in Haiti and provides very little financial help. As for Elodie’s biological mother, she is also in Haiti and in contact via phone, but her mother does not contribute to her financial needs.
-Quote from Step-Mother: “My husband, Elodie’s father is currently in Haiti and not sure when he will be able to return. I have been Elodie’s full-time caretaker and caring for our other three children, their ages fifteen, eleven and six”READ MORE
.JPG)
3) Antonique, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital
Antonique was diagnosed in April of 2011. As soon as Antonique was diagnosed Grandma, also her Legal Guardian, faced an emotional, medical and financial crisis. Antonique and her Grandmother lived in West Palm Beach without reliable transportation. Her treatment was placed on a halt until her Grandmother decided she had to move closer to the hospital in Broward County. The family is still without transportation, but closer to the hospital where she can walk or ask for a ride if need be. Grandmother had to stop her job as a Nurse Aide in order to become a full-time caregiver for Antonique; furthermore, she was recently told that if the child does not respond to treatment, she may face a possible amputation of the leg.
One of JJCCF’s staff met with the family at a railroad station in Broward County to deliver emergency financial assistance to cover a down payment and first month rent for a home close to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital.
-Quote from Grandmother: “THE DOCTORS HAD INDICATED THAT MY GRANDDAUGHTER MAY NEVER WALK AGAIN. HAVE MERCY! I THOUGHT. I AM NOW BEGINNING TO PONDER MY BURDENS… NO CAR, NO JOB, RISING MEDICAL COSTS AND UNABLE TO MAKE THE RENT EACH MONTH HAVE PLACED ME IN DIRE NEED. SOME OF MY CHURCH FAMILY WERE ABLE TO HELP A LITTLE, WHENEVER THEY COULD AFFORD TO, BUT I AM NOW FACED WITH AN EVEN HEAVIER BURDEN. WHO WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF MY GRAND BABY ON A DAILY BASIS WHILE I GO OUT AND TRY TO FIND WORK…?” READ MORE
.jpg)
4) DeMario, 3 Y/O, Broward General Medical Center
DeMario was diagnosed with Wilms’ Tumor (stage IV) March 2011. Since diagnosis, DeMario’s kidney was removed and has received chemotherapy and radiation.
When DeMario was diagnosed, his mother was on her 8th month of pregnancy,had already stopped working and his father had been laid off from his job. The newborn was also born with a kidney disease. Mother did not return to work in order to care for DeMario and the baby. DeMario will continue a rigorous 31 week of treatment. During this time him mother will not be able to work and the father continues to seek employment.
-Quote from Hospital Social Worker: “They ware suddenly dealing with DeMario’s diagnosis, multiple hospitalizations and treatments. They have been struggling financially because of DeMario’s treatment demands and inability to work full time. Thank you for assisting this deserving family.” READ MORE
5) Joerie, 10 Y/O, Broward General Medical Center
Joerie was diagnosed with Leukemia in September 2011. Mom was working as a nurse, but has not been able to work full-time as Joerie requires extensive hospitalizations. Father works as a taxi driver, however his hours have been reduced. The family has fallen behind 4 months on their mortgage as well as other bills. Their home will be foreclosed if they do not pay their mortgage soon.
-Quote from Mother: “I own a house and now I cannot pay it. Soon they will foreclose on my house. I don’t know what to do because chemo treatment makdes her immune system so slow. I have to be very careful with her.” READ MORE
.png)
.jpg)
