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, vivacious 8-year old, was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called Orbital Rhabdomyosarcoma on 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^nd, 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 causes small strokes and seizures, each one taking a detrimental toll on her ability to fight this.

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. If you are the praying type, please add her to your prayers. If you think you can donate a few dollars, that would be great too!  Financial issues are not what the Hicks family needs to be thinking about.

I have contacted a 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.

I completely understand if now is not a good time for you to help out.  If you are unable to help at this time, please say a little prayer for Timmaree.  The more prayers, the better! 

Thank you so much for your consideration.  Please forward this email to your friends and family too!  We can always use the additional help!  It’s amazing what we can do together! 

Sincerely,

Marianne Jones

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