What We Do

• Overview
• Ventura Expansion
• Direct Financial Assistance
• Family Fun Days
• Funeral Fund
• Hotel Accomodations
• Moments in Time
• Parent Support Group
• Transportation
• Care Packages
• Storytellers
• Strength Training
• Collaborations
• Testimonials

Testimonials

Raheem's Family

Dear Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation, We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. How can we ever repay this wonderful thing you have done for our family. It has truly been a blessing. I am now able to drive my son to all of his treatments, without having to worry anyone else, and I owe it all to the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation. You have touched my heart like never before.

I break down and cry, knowing that there are people who really care – no matter what nationality we are. It's like a dream come true. You have really touched my life, and I pray that you will continue on until the day we find a cure for cancer.

God bless everyone that took part in this giving. You have done a wonderful thing. Keep up the good work!

Sincerely,
Raheem Coleman and family

Sophie's Story

Sophie Cameron was named after her maternal Great Grandma Sophie Proctor. None of the other grandchildren dared to use the name as our Grandmother was so revered by our mothers and tragically died before we were born. Grandma Sophie died when she was 43. She died of leukemia.

Sophie Cameron had just turned one year old and her Mom and Dad had taken her to the Pediatrician for her "well-baby" check up. Sophie had numerous ear infections during her first year of life so frequent trips to the Dr. and antibiotics were common to her. On this day however the pediatrician gave her a thorough exam and quietly tapped her tummy feeling the firmness of her internal organs as they were packed with white blood cells. He explained that she was seriously ill. The doctor said calmly " You need to take her over to Cottage Hospital's Pediatric Unit" and when we asked when he said "right now!"

With in two hours time we had seen the pediatric intensivist and had an initial diagnosis of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). The shock of the situation was almost too much for Sophie's Mom and Dad. How could our baby have cancer? Was it hereditary? We were told that adult leukemia in our family history and childhood leukemia are not related. That did not make a difference for us. The irony was bitter.

Our family owes an unimaginable debt to the professional team at Cottage Hospital. Dr Hodder and the nurses on the pediatric floor provided such loving care. They became our teachers and our support system. The other families taught us so much; we learned to take each day for what good was in it and not to worry about what may or may not happen tomorrow. The hardest part was watching other parents lose their children to this horrible cancer. Survivors guilt is awful, but a very real part of this experience.

Over the course of the next 2 1/2 years Sophie endured several spinal taps, countless intravenous chemotherapy appointments and many long hospital stays. She was a trooper; we tried our best to keep her world and that of her sisters as normal as possible. Our whole life seemed to revolve around Sophie's care. At times the hospital stays were too much and the details of our normal daily life were lost, like paying bills on time or going grocery shopping. We had the money, just not the time or energy to keep it all together. There were times when all we could handle was making sure we administered 7-8 different medications she had to take at home.

When I reflect on her course of treatment I remember feeling frightened, overwhelmed and sometimes that all aspects of our daily life were out of our control. We did the best we could. I can only imagine how the support and financial assistance that the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation provides would have helped us; it will certainly meet a critical need. In addition to the practical help, those families who are assisted will take great comfort in knowing that concerned citizens in our community do truly care and are partners with them through a very stressful time.

Sophie is now a 4 1/2-year-old preschooler. Happy, playful and healthy. She has routine blood tests to confirm her remission. And when she turns 6 and all of her follow-up tests are normal she will be deemed "cured" and "cancer free".

Sincerely,
Cameron Family

Becca's Mom Speaks Out

Becca Solodon is a beautiful seventeen year old girl who enjoyed volleyball, jogging, surfing, boogie boarding, and many other activities until her left foot began to ache. Becca was fifteen when her foot began to hurt, at which point we pursued doctor's care.

Her primary care doctor took an x-ray of her foot that confirmed no broken bones. She then was referred to a physical therapist for approximately six months. Therapy did not seem to help and the pain continued to increase.

Becca was then referred to a foot specialist who recommended orthodics. After wearing the orthodics the pain only worsened. Further x-rays were taken showing nothing. We requested an MRI. The MRI showed a small soft tissue mass the size of a marble in her left foot and a referral was made to UCLA for further treatment. We were assured not to worry.

Things looked promising as a biopsy was scheduled to remove the tumor. Shortly after the biopsy we received the phone call that forever changed our lives. The tumor was malignant. It was a rare form of cancer called soft tissue synovial sarcoma and was very aggressive. If left untreated, it was fatal. If treated locally, it had a ninety percent reoccurrence rate and would eventually travel to the lung at which point it would most likely be too advanced to treat. The only way to save Becca's life was to have extensive chemotherapy and amputate below the knee! We were devastated! How would we tell our beautiful, otherwise healthy, daughter the diagnosis?

The value of faith, family, and friends is immeasurable during a crisis time such as this. People rallied together to help carry us through this incredibly difficult time. The pediatric staff and volunteers at Cottage Hospital were so kind and compassionate. Becca underwent seven days of chemotherapy for twenty-two hours a day with a two week break in between, for two cycles. She then had a forty-eight hour cycle before her amputation. Becca's Mom needed to stay with her during these extended hospital stays. She therefore took a one year unpaid leave of absence from her job to provide care and rehabilitation for Becca. Many additional expenses accrued during this time as medical needs arose.

The Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation is aware of these and other needs of families who are struggling through similar situations with their children. The support and financial assistance the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation offers serves to encourage these families and remind them that they are not alone. What a comfort to know that others care enough to get involved!

Becca is finished with her cancer treatments and will need regular CAT scans for the next five years. She is beginning her journey of being fitted with a prosthetic leg. We anticipate a wonderful, cancer free life for our daughter!

Sincerely,
Solodon Family

Rankin Family

Dear Nikki,

We wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed the Spring Party on Saturday. The girls had so much fun that they didn't want to leave! We are always so amazed at how many activities you provide at each event. There was so much to do! Lexi loved decorating her purse and making a chick house. Sam loved doing the pottery. My favorite was making a quilt square. Hans was amazed at how much tasty food there was. And the volunteers! There were outstanding, really enthusiastic and caring.

Besides the fun we have at your events, attending them provides us with a positive way to discuss Lexi's history of leukemia with her. Lexi is four now, and doesn't remember her treatment, so whenever we go to one of your parties, we remind her that she had cancer, that she got treatment, and that she is now healthy. Lexi just thinks it's great that she gets to go to parties because she had cancer!

Thank you for all the hard work that you do.

Sincerely,
The Rankin Family

Smith Family

Dear Nikki,

Michael at Powell Skateboards was awesome. He talked with Hunter like he was the only one alive and gave the most incredible tour; in words he could relate to. Of course, Faith was on her best behavior and had fun too. Met the owners George & Julie Powell. Most exciting for Hunter was when Michael gave him a brand new skateboard with a dragon decal, stickers, T-shirt, Game Boy-game & a DVD on how to do skateboard tricks. Faith made note of her best behavior during the tour and Michael came through with a Sea Monkey deck for her. Wow! Michael definitely cares for children whose lives are altered and wants to spread hope to families in need. Thank you for looking out for Hunter and giving him these amazing opportunities.

Sincerely,
The Smith Family

Nunley Family

It is funny how you can be in a situation that not long ago you would have thought was unimaginably painful, something you couldn't possibly deal with and then, somehow when you are living that nightmare, you are actually able to reflect on how lucky you are.

Such is the case with us and our now 3 year-old daughter Eliana. Before cancer, my husband and I remember sneaking into her room every night, gazing down at her and talking about what a miracle it was to have such a perfect, healthy baby girl. She had such an amazing zest for life and exuberance. So you can imagine our shock when one minute our pediatrician is telling us her low fever and runny nose is a cold and 3 days later she is receiving emergency platelet and red blood cell transfusions in addition to intense chemotherapy for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Over a year later, our new life revolves around Ellie's drug regimen. Trying to plan the important events in our lives around when she will be off her steroids so that she won't be violent, depressed, wailing, and with wobbly legs. Planning around spinal taps, injections in her in-dwelling chest catheter, daily 3 hour fasts in order to take her oral chemotherapy, and also trying to guess which side effects drugs will ease her discomfort; antinausea, pain medicine, stomach pain medicine, or laxative.

I reflect on the precancer days when I agonized over her not eating some vegetables or having to give her Tylenol for immunizations! What a different world!

So, why are we lucky? Well, an obvious reason is that our child has an 85% chance of beating this cancer when only a few decades ago, she would most surely not have survived. Another reason is the existence of the incredible pediatric hematology/oncology program in Santa Barbara that saves us making 3-4 hour treks to LA or Stanford in order to get Eliana topnotch treatment. (God bless you Dr. Greenfield, Nurse Pam and the rest of the dedicated staff there at Cottage Hospital!).

But there is another, less obvious reason. As hard as this struggle is for us on a daily basis, we have met so many other families along the way that have a much greater struggle; families who aren't fortunate enough to have nearby family and friends on whom to call, families who have had much longer hospital stays that have forced them to give up income in order to stay and care for their child, who don't have the means to pay for their child's treatment, or perhaps don't have a car to get to and from chemotherapy. We actually have the "luxury" to focus all our energy and attention on getting our daughter well and seeing to her needs, whereas so many other families have additional emotional and financial burdens to bear at the same time. When I see how hard things are for us, I can't even imagine how some of these other families can get up and face their day.

That is why Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation is SOOOOO important. They saw that there was a need in the community and through a combination of a huge heart and amazing drive and perseverance this organization was founded whose sole mission is to make sure that families of children with cancer can focus on getting their children well. How on earth would some of these families manage without Teddy Bear?

Even for people like us, who are fortunate enough not to need financial help, Teddy Bear provides a huge service. I remember when we were in the hospital and one of the staff told me that nobody could possibly understand what I was going through as a parent unless they, too, had been through cancer with a child. That is where our connection to Teddy Bear has been such a support. Through Teddy Bear, we meet with other families dealing with the same crisis from our area and are able to spend time with them, chat about our stress and struggles, laugh and cry about it and watch our children relating in ways that they can't relate to healthy children. We know there are people out there who totally understand and what a comfort that is when we see them!

Thank you Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation. Please keep doing what you are doing.

Love,
Mike, Danya, Eliana and Liora Nunley

Hunter Terrones

On November 5th, 2004, my son Hunter was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. He was only 4 ½ years old at the time. I still remember (like it was just yesterday) the day we found out the terrible news, my son and I were in the Doctor's office, waiting to go over the results of tests taken the day before. When the Doctor finally came in and explained the test results to me, my heart felt like it just stopped beating and all I could do was cry. Hunter was on my lap, and when he saw his Mommy sobbing, he was scared and began to cry too. So at that very moment, I immediately realized that my son was going to look to me for his strength, security, and hope. Whether it was with his Dad or with me, I knew we had to be strong for him. So, from that point forward, we decided to make this a positive situation for my son, to give him a fighting chance of survival.

The first 4-6 months following Hunter's diagnosis, we were in and out of the hospital on a recurring basis. But soon after this initial period, it started becoming more manageable, and we were slowly able to adjust to these life-changing events. I think what really helped in this situation was the fact that both his Dad and I continued to treat both Hunter and his brother Grant in a "normal" way. We tried in every way to make sure Hunter didn't feel different or somehow less than others. Amazingly, Hunter is now 6 ½ years old, and he has never questioned or worried about what will happen to him in the future. He has played his first year of baseball, his first season of soccer, and we just recently signed him up for basketball. He absolutely loves to play sports; and best of all, we love watching him participate and enjoy himself with all the other kids. We are so happy to report, his last treatment will be March 2nd 2008. That will definitely be a day of celebration for us!

Looking back now, I know in my heart that God held our hands throughout the entire period of my son's sickness. He was with us every step of the way and we know, with confidence, He always will be. Hunter thanks God for healing him. Out of the worry, pain, and uncertainty of this sickness, we can now testify that there have been many positive impacts to our family. The Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation (TBCF) has been a true blessing for my family, not only for Hunter, but for our son Grant as well. I could not have asked for a better atmosphere for my children to grow up in, to just "be kids" in, and really to just have the time of their lives! TBCF sincerely treats us like their family, and I am so grateful for them. We thank God for those that provide their heart-felt services to this God-sent organization.

Sincerely,
Terrones Family