Annual Appeal

          GROWING HOPE

• Precious, 6 year old from Lancaster -

          3 months of health insurance

• Robert, 2 year old from Chino -

          Sea World Wish

• Janet, 13 year old from Los Angeles-

           purchase protective clothing

• Shelby, 11 year old from Downey -

          grocery cards & gas cards 

• Emily, 7 year old from Van Nuys -

          medications not covered by insurance

• Tyler, 6 year old from Fullerton -

           lodging 

• Caleb, 1 year old from Robertsdale, Alabama –

           lodging & medical

• Jacqueline, 10 year old from Coachella –

           transportation expense

The diagnosis of childhood cancer can be

devastating for a family. Childhood cancer is

treated aggressively, often with a combination

of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery, at a

time of life when bodies are growing and

developing.  Additionally, parents of children

with cancer are often young, have a limited

income, and they have other children. One

parent often needs to give up a job to take

care of their child being treated for cancer.

• Each school day, 46 children are

           diagnosed with cancer.

• One in 330 children will

           develop cancer by age 20.

• Although the 5 year survival rate

          is steadily increasing, one quarter

          of children will die 5 years from the

          time of diagnosis.

• Cancer remains the number one

          disease killer of America's children.

Thankfully, the majority of children diagnosed

with cancer will survive.  Healing is a partnership

between the child, the family, health care

professionals and the supportive care provided by

the Desi Geestman Foundation (DGF).

The DGF’s supportive care programs are geared to

improving quality of life for a child undergoing treatment

and their family by providing financial and emotional

support. This vital support has been operating and

evolving since the start of the foundation in 1999 and

is not offered by any other institution. 

The commitment of the foundation to the patient and

the family begins at the time of diagnosis and continues

through treatment, recovery, and end-of-life.  Most families

serviced require short-term intervention, most suffer from

low socio-economic status, limited resources and have

exhausted all their support options.  This crisis intervention

is designed to temporarily alleviate and support families

during the emotional, financial and psychological effects

of the disease. 

Thanks to our wonderful donors, volunteers and corporate

partners, these are exciting times at the DGF.  We continue

to serve children with cancer at City of Hope and are

beginning to expand our services to other area hospitals.

We need your help now!  Together we can change the effects

childhood cancer has on the child and their family.  One child,

one family at a time, we “touch the lives of children with cancer”;

by giving them smiles and bringing them hope.  On behalf of

the families touched by your generosity, we are so grateful.

                 Thank you for helping us GROW HOPE!