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August - 2008
Dear
Friends and family,
It
is with a heavy, yet hopeful heart that I write this to all of you. I
am writing to ask for your love and support for an amazing child and
family that could use as much as we can give.
As many of you
know, Timmaree Hicks is fighting for her life right now. Timmaree, a
beautiful, bright 8-year old, was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer
called Orbital Rhabdomyosarcoma in January of 2007. She underwent
intense chemo and radiation of the eye for nine months. Finally, in
mid-November, she was determined to be cancer-free. She was a happy,
carefree, “normal” kid again. She had a fantastic Christmas and started
back to school, joined the school play and a softball team. But just
three short months later, devastation struck the Hicks family once more.
On February 2nd, 2008, Timmaree was admitted to CHOC’s
intensive care unit with what seemed to be a stroke. An MRI showed a
golf-ball size tumor near her brainstem and hundreds of other small
tumors throughout her brain, some of which caused the stroke. The
cancer came back with a vengeance and metastasized in her brain.
And just recently,
we found out that the cancer is now rapidly spreading throughout her
brain and spine as well. She is fighting for her life with everything
she has. The doctors have now given her a very limited amount of time
left. Timmaree does not know the severity of the situation, while
Debbie and Gerry live minute by minute, hour
by hour, day by day with their sweet daughter.
I think of my own
children and what I would feel if I were faced with this. It makes me
love my family even more and puts everything into perspective. Timmaree
is a fighter and a very strong little girl. A “hero” to many of us. I
am sure you can imagine the emotional, physical, and financial impact
this is having on her family. It is really unbearable to watch.
Timmaree’s parents have numerous medical bills from last year they are
trying to get through and the journey ahead of them will be long and
costly. Since February, Timmaree has spent more nights in CHOC hospital
than she has in her own bed. Both parents work very little to be by
their daughter’s bedside. The emotional strain has been agonizing and
debilitating, and the financial struggle is exhausting. We go on with
our daily lives, while Timmaree and her family forget what it feels like
to be normal. So, I am asking for your help. Please keep the Hicks
family and little Timmaree in your thoughts and prayers.
We all wonder what
we could do to help and wish we could ease their burden in some
way. Here is an opportunity to do just that. Financial issues are not
what the Hicks family needs to be thinking about so I have contacted a
non-profit foundation that has added Timmaree to their “Beneficiaries”
list. It is called Helping Hearts For Friends. They do great work by
helping local families during life’s most difficult journeys. This
foundation offers us a way to make a tax-deductible donation to
the Hicks family to help offset their medical costs.
I completely
understand if now is not a good time for you to help out. If you are
unable to help financially at this time, her family asks that you
pray for Timmaree to have peace and to be
pain free. The more prayers, the better! If you can help
financially, click on the following link to make a donation:
http://www.helpinghearts4friends.org. Be sure to add Timmaree’s
name to the bottom of your check, or if donating by credit card, add it
to the “Special Events” or “Notes” sections of the donation form. This
will ensure the monies go into Timmaree’s account only.
Thank you so much
for your consideration. Please email this to your family, friends and
businesses too! It’s amazing what we can do when we pull together!
Sincerely,
Marianne Jones
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May - 2008
Timmaree Hicks, a beautiful, vivacious 8-year old, was diagnosed with a
rare form of cancer called
Orbital
Rhabdomyosarcomaon
January of 2007. She underwent intense chemo and radiation of the eye
for nine months. Finally, in mid-November, she was determined to be
cancer-free. She was a happy, carefree, “normal” kid again. She had a
fantastic Christmas and started back to school, joined the school play
and a softball team.
But just three short months later, devastation struck the Hicks family
once more. On February 2, 2008, Timmaree was admitted to CHOC’s
intensive care unit with what seemed to be a stroke. An MRI showed a
golf-ball size tumor near her brainstem and hundreds of other small
tumors throughout her brain, some of which caused the stroke. The
cancer came back with a vengeance and metastasized in her brain. She is
faced with, literally, the fight of her life. She receives extremely
toxic doses of experimental chemotherapy, five days a week, every three
weeks, as well as radiation to her entire brain. The chemo is so strong
it has caused many small strokes and seizures, each one taking a
detrimental toll on her ability to fight this.
As
you can imagine, Timmaree’s parents have numerous medical bills from
last year they are trying to get through and the journey ahead of them
will be long and costly. Since February, Timmaree has spent more nights
in CHOC hospital than she has in her own bed. Both parents work very
little to be by their daughter’s bedside. The emotional strain has been
agonizing and debilitating, and the financial struggle is exhausting.
Please keep Timmaree and her family in your thoughts and prayers as
they continue to fight for the life of an amazing little warrior.
Donations can be
sent to the below address and please place "Timmaree" in the memo field
on your check. Checks must be made payable to "Helping Hearts For
Friends".
Helping Hearts for Friends Foundation
P.O. Box 23
Yorba Linda, CA 92885-0023 |
