- November 28, 2024
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When your child is diagnosed with cancer, everything else in your life takes a back seat — even though sometimes that doesn't seem possible.
"There was a time when I didn't have enough gas to get to the hospital," said Rose Mary Fraguada, whose daughter Camila Garcia-Fraguada was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in February 2014. "I called Jack (Becker), and he said, 'I'll be there in five minutes.' He waited for us and brought us home."
As the executive director for the Childhood Cancer Foundation, Becker said the goal is always to make life as normal as possible for the family during what can be the worst days of their lives.
"We started by giving out gas cards to get to and from hospital visits," he said. "Now we take care of everything from car repairs to power bills and marriage counseling. All the things a normal family needs."
As a single mother, Fraguada said it was difficult for her to make her family feel like everything was going to be okay even though they were struggling financially. But thanks to CCF, her and her family had the support they needed to focus on getting the 8-year-old better. She was declared in remission this past May.
"Camila has been a tireless warrior," said her mother. "Her motto has always been: ''You have to do, what you have to do, to be good.' For me it's very important to make awareness that this horrible illness is touching more kids than we imagine, that families coping with this situation leave everything to be 200%
with their kids."
The Fraguadas are just one of over 30 families in Volusia County that CFF is currently serving. Ashley Finney also sought help from the organization after her 7-year-old daughter, Logan, was diagnosed with ALL.
"Financially, missing work was the biggest thing," she said. "There were times when we were wondering how we were going to make it, and along came a gas card. Without CFF things would have been much more stressful. Knowing they were there was a weight lifted
off our shoulders. They have so much heart."
Not having to worry about all the financial obstacles life can hit you with gave Finney a chance to focus on the important things, like comforting her other three kids during her daughter's treatments.
"My sister recently passed away from ALL," she said. "So it took a lot of convincing to get my three boys to understand that Logan was going to be okay. They were so scared for their sister, and I feel like they learned so much about life now. They're going to grow up with a lot of compassion."
Helping families like the Fraguada's and the Finney's is the mission behind Oasis Church and On the Move's upcoming Better Together Event. Held July 9 at Rockefeller Gardens, the event will raise money for CFF to continue helping local families affected by cancer.
"It's important that the community understand the wonderful job CCF is doing bringing hope and some relief to our families," Fraguada said. "We, as a family, invite the community to be part of the battle, and help Camila to see her dream come true: a cancer free world."
