GRATITUDE…..Such a simple word which has such a powerful emotion attached to it.  It is a word I carry with me everyday since having the amazing opportunity of being involved in the Twelve Days of Christmas Program sponsored by Cal’s All-Star Angel Foundation to drop off presents to an amazing little boy Gustavo Carlos and his family.

Gustavo is an 11 year old little boy with the warmest smile I have ever seen.  Gustavo was diagnosed with an Ependymoma at the age of 8.  An Ependymoma is a tumor located in the brain and affects the Central Nervous System.  The tumor has slowly progressed causing Gustavo terrible headaches, the inability to use 1 arm and his legs.  The treatment has been tough on Gustavo and over the last 1 1/2 years Gustavo has been unable to attend school and has been homebound.  A lonely little place for an 11 year old.

I have to admit I was a bit nervous to drop off the gifts to Gustavo and his family as their primary language is Spanish.  All my fears were completely removed just by the warm smiles that greeted me.  Upon entering the house you could feel the love and GRATITUDE from the family.  Gustavo is fortunate to have his siblings and cousins living in the same building and always spend their day “spoiling” him.  The family was overwhelmed by the generosity of the gifts we brought from Cal’s Angels.  You could feel the emotions of the family and they were so thankful that complete strangers had taken the time to step into their world and offer them the magic of Christmas as well as the time to show Gustavo and his family that we care.

 We spent almost an hour and a half just talking with the family and joking with Gustavo.  Gustavo was so excited about his gifts that we all agreed he should open just one that day.  He loved the IronMan toy and had fun counting up the gifts that he would see on Christmas morning.  It was sad when the time came to leave.  The hugs that came from Gustavo and his family left a permanent imprint on me…….Gustavo captured my heart!!

So for this brief moment that Gustavo entered my world I can only feel GRATITUDE!  GRATITUDE for those few moments I got to spend with a very special little boy with the kindest eyes and sweetest smile.  The amazing work of Cal’s All Star Angel Foundation allowed Gustavo to understand he isn’t alone and that people care…..about HIM!!!  Gustavo warmed my heart and has forever changed my spirit.  So, in the words of John F. Kennedy, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. ” Gustavo and his family are amazing examples of doing just that!

Melissa

Mary Lew and Tammi are one of our Twelve Days volunteer families and here’s what they had to say about meeting 19 year old Miles and his family.

I cannot fully describe the awesome experience I had along with my step-daughter, Tammi.  We were chosen to deliver Christmas gifts, a gingerbread house and cookies to Miles who has been fighting a brain tumor for three years.  Miles and his 12 year old brother, Leland, were thrilled with their gifts.  We received numerous hugs.  Their family was very warm and friendly.  It was incredible!  Tammi and I left their house feeling unbelievably happy!  Many thanks to the wonderful organization, Cal’s All-Star Angel Foundation, for all they do!

~ Mary Lew

My Step-Mom and I were asked to deliver Christmas gifts to Miles, 19 years old who has a brain tumor and his brother Leland, 12 years old.  Miles and his family welcomed us into their home with much warmth and lots of hugs.  They loved all of their gifts, but most importantly they loved that someone cared!  This experience definitely made an impact on me also.  Life is short, so help those in need and don’t ever be too busy for others.  I’m so glad and proud to have met this family.  Cal’s All-Star Angel Organization is amazing and wonderful!!  They have already made such a difference in so many kids’ lives.

~Tammi

And a note from Miles’ mother came in a couple weeks later -

Dear Tom & Stacey,

Thank you so much for helping my family have a great holiday.  My kids, Miles and Leland, were so happy to have the gifts you gave them and we all loved the fabulous Christmas dinner we purchased with the $150 Jewel gift card.  It really touched me that you were so generous especially to Miles’ younger brother Leland.  As the sibling, he often gets overlooked so it really meat a lot for him to be treated the same as his brother. Your volunteers, Tammi and Mary Lew, were terrific.  We all had a great time chatting, visiting and taking pictures. Miles’ three year (and counting) odyssey has been a struggle for us all.  Organizations like Cal’s Angels really help us get through all the difficulties.

Thank You, Adriene

 Travis Misner Update:

Awesome news Travis is one of two college student athletes in the nation to have been chosen to represent the United States at the International University Sport Federation Forum in China.  Click here to read the this link to the article on the NCAA.org website – WAY TO GO TRAVIS!

The St. Charles North graduate Travis Misner has yet to throw a pitch in two years with the Loras College baseball program, but he’s still enriching his college experience through sports.

Shoulder woes have shelved Misner for his first two years. After receiving a cortisone shot in April, he’s on the mend, and optimistic that his long-awaited college baseball debut will come as a junior.

It would be about time. Many athletes are climbing the walls when injuries force them out of the lineup for a couple weeks, let alone a couple years.

Click to read the full article from the Kane County Chronicle

Congratulations Travis! Cal’s Angels was impressed with Travis’ work in the local community. He is an all around volunteer who does everything from helping his autistic neighbor (Travis says he learned more from him) to helping special needs kids in PE (he wanted to make a lasting impression so that life is a little bit easier for them). Travis states that his parents taught him to believe that “what goes around comes around.”

When applying for the Cal’s Angels Scholarship, Travis had several goals in mind. First, he realized how hard his parents were working to give him a good life and wanted to help ease that stress for them financially. He also made it clear that he wasn’t trying to “win the award” but that he was just being himself and that there is no better feeling than being rewarded for who you are. Travis says baseball taught him to persevere and be a team player.

Travis said that he could relate to Cal and said if he didn’t win he knew “the senior from his team would do great things and honor Cal’s memory” – Cal’s Angels thought this showed great maturity and solidified to us that he would represent the Foundation well.

We received a nice note from Travis Misner’s parents this week. Travis was selected to represent the United States  at the FISU ( International University Sports Federation) Forum in Taipei City China next March. As you know he is a national SAAC ( Student Athletic Association Committee)
representative for the NCAA ( National Collegiate Athletic Association). He was nominated  by a committee member and his advisers at Loras to be one of the  American Student athletes to represent the USA  in China. This was open to student athletes at everyCollege in the United States. He had to write a letter and go through a few interviews.  They selected  one Male athlete and one Female athlete to travel to China and take part in an international Forum. I’m not sure of the details yet, but he will be featured on the front page of the NCAA website. As Travis’ parents we are very excited and proud of his work he’s put into this committee and it is really paying off for him. We like to keep you updated on Travis and his accomplishments because we are continually grateful for the scholarship money that he won in Cals memory. It is a great thing you do and we are thankful for your part in his education!

We got  to meet Aidee and her father Angel at the Best Buy in Addison.  We were waiting for them when the store opened.  We kept watching for a family and a girl that was very sick but, much to our surprise, she looked great but we knew that soon after our meeting she would be facing a really rough road with a stem cell transplant.

Aidee and her father came in smiling, walked up to us and asked if I was Sue.  When I responded yes, she gave me a big giant hug.  She is a beautiful girl inside and out!  She was looking for an iPad so she could keep up with her homework while she went back to Children’s Memorial for the stem cell transplant and has to be in isolation.  She cannot wait to beat this disease so she can give back to others who are fighting.  Aidee and her father want to volunteer at the hospital to help other families that are going through this.  She was one of the most spirited young ladies I have ever met.  I thought we would be in and out of the store quickly, but we spent a few hours in the store, and then all went out for a great lunch.

She has such an upbeat and positive personality and was very thankful to us for coming to meet her and granting this wish for her.  Cal’s Angels is doing such amazing things!   We were honored to be a part in helping with Aidee’s wish.  All of us are looking forward to keeping in touch with Aidee.  Thanks again to Cal’s for putting a smile on all of our faces!

Sue ~ Mom

When my mom told me we were going to do a wish for Cal’s All Star Angel Foundation I couldn’t stop thinking about it.  On that Saturday morning when we were waiting for Aidee and her family at Best Buy I kept glancing at the door.  I was vey surprised by what she looked like when she walked up to us, she looked really good.  Aidee has a great personality and every time I looked at her she had a big grin on her face.  It made me so happy to see that she was happy.  It was fun to help Aidee pick out an Ipad.  She didn’t know much about iPads so my two sisters and I told her what fun things you could do on it such as taking pictures, playing games and etc.  After we bought her iPad and case we went out to lunch.  While we were waiting for our food we were taking a bunch of funny pictures on camwow.  I had a great time meeting Aidee and her father.  I couldn’t stop looking at the big smiles on everybody’s faces.  It made me so happy to grant Aidee’s wish and to be a part of Cal’s Angel’s, I cant wait to do more wishes!

Maggie ~ 11

Getting to meet Aidee and her father, Angel, was one of the most inspirational experiences that I’ve ever had.  The fact that her and I are the same age makes me realize how easy my life is.  I complain everyday about teeny little things and she gets up everyday with a positive attitude, fighting for her life.  I was truly inspired by her positive attitude and I wish the best for her because she deserves the better of this situation.  It was great to see her and her dad’s smiling faces; they were so thankful for what we did.  It was the least we could do, and I wish I could do more.  Aidee has incredible drive and an amazing personality.  Her and I really clicked that day at Best Buy and I hope to stay in touch with her!

Kaylan ~ 17

The day of the wish we were all very excited to be there.  I, along with my family were all looking forward to meeting Aidee and her father.  We got to Best Buy super early and anxiously waited for their arrival.  Once Aidee and her father walked in, I almost looked past them because she did not look sick at all.  She was smiley and very friendly.  Her dad was also very nice and excited for his daughter that she was having a wish come true.  We all shared eye opening experiences that day as we continued to learn about this awesome girl and her family.  I think it is absolutely incredible that she is able to remain so positive through the ups and downs of the process.  That day Aidee, without even really knowing her, taught me that there will be hard obstacles in life but it really is up to you to decide how you want to go about overcoming those obstacles and continue to live a happy life.

Jordan ~ 20

Seven of us from the Foundation made snowmen, served lunch and healthy snacks to over 200 patients and their parents on the oncology floor.  A huge THANK YOU to Power Play Distributors and Home Run Inn Pizza for donating 30 extra large pizzas to the event and, by the way, it was all gone by 1:00pm!

Twelve Days of Christmas Program in Action for 8 Year Old Shamaria and Her Sisters.

Roger and Susan along with their son Zach are one of our Twelve Days volunteer families and here’s what they had to say about meeting 8 year old Shamaria (in the background of the picture at the right and the pink sweater below) and her sisters who all live with grandma (aka Sugar Mama and/or Gma).  Shamaria has been diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma and gets dialysis three times per week due to renal failure.

“Just want to say thanks again for allowing us to be a part of the ’12 Days Program.  It was a joy and the highlight of our Christmas this year.  The gifts were requested wrapped for under the tree on Christmas so we didn’t get to see them open them but what a joy it must have been for their Grandma (Sugar Mama they call her) to watch their faces as they opened all the gifts…sure it was such fun!  Sent Shamaria a boom box/Justin Bieber CD…couldn’t resist to hear the excitement for the ‘Bieber’ in their house-so cute.

I’ll give Jean a call to check in and say ‘hello’ and see how Shamaria is doing…as Jean shared that they were waiting to see if she needed to go in for a transfusion.

Thanks so much for what you and Tom do…for the ’12 days’ and throughout the year for the kids and their families.  A personal thanks for blessing us this year and allowing us the privilege to meet with the Mack family and Shamaria.  It really touched our hearts and we’re so grateful.  As I shared with you after the loss of my Dad in January to esophageal cancer – this was especially ‘special’ to me, and I am very appreciative.

When I asked Zach for his thoughts about meeting Shamaria and the rest of the Mack family:

“It was fun to help them out.  It felt good to help them out after meeting them.  I felt like that’s all I really wanted for Christmas…because they deserve the presents more than us…for all they’ve been through.  I would help again, because I felt that I was helping out for a great cause.”

Thanks again and Merry Christmas!

Susan Grygier

Then in a follow up e-mail on the 29th Susan wrote -

Just talked to Jean (Gma) this morning.  She said ’thank you again’….girls are still opening gifts and she is ’organizing’.  Bit of a scare yesterday with Shamaria-her blood pressure shot up again…but things seem to settle and she is doin’ good.  We are hopeful to keep in touch with Gma throughout the year….

The Twelve Days of Christmas Program in Action.

I hope to visit this family again and if you ever get the chance to do something like this, anything like this, do it!  You will not regret it; you will have a very enjoyable time, meet great people and be able to have the satisfaction of making a family’s holiday so much better.  These people are going through such a rough time and having a child with cancer is a parent’s worst nightmare.

Being able to think that I could help relieve them of a little worry is the best feeling in the world.  I would love to be allowed the privilege to do this again and again and again.  My two children, Michael and Maddie, wrote a little bit about their experience as well.

Thanks again for the privilege of handling this family for the Twelve Days Program! ~ Cathy

Michael, 16

My experience delivering to Bejian and his family was amazing.  Bejian and I are only 2 years apart in age and realizing what he is going through made me realize how lucky I really am.  I admire “B”s outlook on his situation and the way he tackles daily life with such enthusiasm is extraordinary.  It was great to see how much support he has from his family and how they are all pulling together.  This trip was truly inspirational. 

Maddie, 13

A few weeks ago, my family and I delivered presents and baked goods to a family from Cal’s Angels, 12 days.  We were all a bit nervous not knowing what to expect from this family that is facing such a hard time in their lives, but the experience was delightful.  The family was friendly, welcoming, and frankly just awesome.  We presented them with baked goods, gingerbread house kits and a family movie night basket and DVD player.  The other gifts were going to be used for under their tree on Christmas, and the thought of their excitement when opening the presents and enjoying the goods was beyond wonderful, it was magical.  Bejian (“B”) would not let the giant movie night bundle out of his sight!  His brother could not wait to get started on the gingerbread houses.  B’s youngest sister is only nine months old, and I swear I have never seen a cuter, more persistent, adorable little girl in my life!  B’s other sister was out at a sleepover, but if she is anything like her siblings she must be wonderful.  B’s mother and grandparents were welcoming and funny.  They had so many entertaining stories to share.

Cal’s Angels wants to send a special note of recognition to Maddie who asked her friends to donate toys to Cal’s Angels Toy Drive rather than bring presents for her birthday party – Thanks Maddie!

The result was a shopping spree at Best Buy for a 10 year old girl who has been battling leukemia for over a year.  Don Hopp and Bertha Villagomez met Stephanie and her family at Best Buy and assisted her in choosing her gifts with the more than helpful Best Buy sales folks.  Here is what they had to say about this inspiring experience.

We met Stephanie at Best Buy to take her on her shopping spree.  She is a beautiful young girl and very wise beyond her years.  Most 10 year olds are “all about me”, but not Stephanie.  She was there with her Mother and two younger sisters and, as she took her time looking for the items she wanted, she also considered what her younger sisters were interested in as well.

She was very shy and reserved but smiled a lot and listened to the explanations given by the Best Buy store representative of the different things she was interested in.

She walked away happy with a WII system, an iPod touch, several games and even extra controllers so she could play with her younger sisters.

She impressed me very much by how mature and strong she is.  I am forever grateful to have met such a brave young girl.

Bertha Villagomez  

Becky (Mom)
We knew very little about the young girl before we pulled into the parking spot near her family’s apartment in the NW suburbs. She was just words on a page: Diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia 2 years ago, relapsed this July, no siblings, 5 years old. We’ve all read and heard about kids like her; one a miracle, another a tragedy.

We told the girls that Sabrina was going to be different. We were going to meet her at her house and bring her some presents. Yes, we had to rearrange our day. Yes, we were all going as a family. Yes, it’s possible she won’t be feeling up to a visit. The kids had lots of questions as we made our way up north. I could tell they were nervous. I explained to them that Cal’s Angels had matched us up with her to make her wish come true. I’ll never forget the response. “What do we have to do Mom? What is her wish? Does she want to go to Disney World?” they asked. “No, girls but she does want a bed, complete with Disney princess sheets and comforter.” They were stunned. She could have asked for so many things, but she had asked for something as simple as a bed.

Later, after we had arrived back home, I asked them to write down some of their thoughts:

Emily (13)
My experience with meeting Sabrina and her mother was very life changing. At first, I was so sad to think that a 5 year had to go through that much, but at the same time I was so happy for her. The minute we walked in, Sabrina started to set the table for “the party”. She had picked out cupcakes just for us and her Mom was making some fresh coffee. They invited us in like we were family and we sat down and talked for a while. But when it came to the presents, WOW! was she overjoyed! She looked like she had won the lottery. It felt very good to give her everything she wanted. My favorite part of our visit was that Sabrina was so talkative. She even told us that her favorite Disney princess was Cinderella. I really enjoyed this wonderful visit with one 5 year old girl that was such a charming sweetheart.

Katie (10)
When we arrived Sabrina and her mom had cupcakes set out for us. And Sabrina was setting up napkins all around the table to make sure that if we spilled, it wouldn’t make a mess. They tasted so good and they were GINORMOUS and each one was decorated so beautifully. It was fun to watch her open her presents. She was so excited!! Her mom was too. I felt really excited for Sabrina that we could give her a blessed gift. She was a beautiful girl and was so happy with her life even though she has leukemia. She was a very charming little girl.

We took pictures that day, and whenever we see them, we smile when we remember that sweet little face. We thank Cal’s Angels for the opportunity to connect with this special child and her mother. Sabrina became more than just a name to us that day. She is family, a fighter, our hero.  

The students at Ferson Creek School (grades  K-5) unanimously voted Cal’s Angels in as their service project for the school year – we have a lot of fun activities planned with students, parents and staff in hopes of raising awareness about pediatric cancer and the battles these brave children fight.