Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – A graduate, a budding artist, and some warm clothes! That’s a quick update from Aid to Families of Children With Cancer (AFCC), a non-profit organization that supports 18 families who have a child diagnosed with cancer in the Puerto Vallarta region. Here are their inspiring stories:
Our Graduate
Three years ago, Esmy joined the AFCC program. The doctor said there was no longer anything they could do for her. When hearing this, Esmy gave up too, thinking she would not be able to do anything. She became very depressed. Aurora asked her to keep a journal and write what she was feeling. Sometimes, she’d email her thoughts to Aurora, who saw that she had potential and asked her to find a college.
AFCC helped with her education through a scholarship. There were multiple days a week or months where she was so sick she couldn’t attend school. Her teachers sent her homework with another student. When she felt better, she returned to school for one or two hours and completed the rest of her work at home. She was also continuing her cancer treatments, traveling back and forth to Guadalajara, but her studying didn’t stop. She had a goal; she wanted to graduate because she felt school was keeping her alive.
Three years later, Esmy did graduate. She’s so grateful to everyone who has provided donations for her medical needs – the never-ending trips to the Guadalajara hospital and the medications. Without your support, she would never have realized her dream.
Esmy is still on a special diet and taking expensive medications. But she’s one proud and happy young girl and wants to thank everyone for believing in her and supporting her.
Luis Alberto – Budding Artist
Another teen has a dream to attend college. Luis Alberto had surgery last year to remove a stent that was put in place when he had a cancerous tumor removed three years ago. Following that surgery, he lost the ability to walk as one foot is now disabled. Luis Alberto also has one hand disabled. Due to the surgery last year, he missed the first semester. During recovery, he fell and hurt his leg because he has difficulty getting up and down from buses.
Luis Alberto loves painting and can only use one hand. Attached is one of his paintings. He would like to have this painting reproduced on greeting cards to raise funds to help pay for his education. He’s excited to get back to school. We haven’t worked out a location for selling the cards yet, but we will update you with the information.
Warm Clothes for the Children
Many of the children recently asked for warm clothes. Thanks to a donation specifically for clothes, many of their wishes have been filled. The little girls traveling to Guadalajara on the bus during this recent long cold spell have been significantly affected. The buses are cold, and the weather is several degrees colder in Guadalajara. Aurora went shopping for them so they will get three sets of each. A huge thank you for this donation. Now the kids will be kept warm and comfortable and, of course, will be looking adorable in their pony shirts and panda caps.
Please remember these great inspirations, Luis Alberto and Esmy, and help us continue our support to each of the families by donating HERE.