It was two and 1/2 years ago that a 13-month-old toddler named Amaya was diagnosed with cancer of the retina. Her mom, Caitlin, was single mother attending our local community college.The days, weeks and months that followed were a cycle of doctor visits, chemotherapy, shots, surgery, conversations with specialists, and long hours on the road between home and the hospital at University of California, San Francisco.

Today Amaya is nearly 4 and no longer undergoing treatment. She is a little dynamo who lets nothing get in her way or slow her down. Her favorite game is playing doctor and giving her animals pretend shots or taking their blood. Her mother is back in school. Through it all, providing support, solace and even fun, was Jacob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Support Services.

Jacob’s Heart provides compassionate care and practical support to the entire family. To some this means a hand to hold or an ear to listen, to others it means helping to pay the rent and simply knowing there’s someone to rely on for information. For an ill child, it may come as a pal who knows exactly what they feel without saying a word and for siblings it may mean a volunteer friend that is there just for them. Each person’s experience is unique and we treat them that way

This year we are celebrating our 10th year of providing services. Please help honor this very special year by joining me in being part of our Heart Beat program whereby you can give a little each month to ensure we continue to meet the needs of families in our community. As a local organization, relying solely on private support, we could easily become overwhelmed but for the support of our incredible donors like you. Your tax deductible contribution will make a real difference in the lives of kids every day.

Some of the ways we’ve provided support include:
• Bilingual Counseling and Support Groups for siblings, teens, parents and bereaved families
• Direct Financial Assistance with household bills, fuel costs, groceries and memorials
• Resource Center providing parents with materials on best ways to contribute to the care of their child
• Art from the Heart giving families a creative outlet for self expression
• Celebrations and Milestones honoring the important events in the lives of the special children we serve

We’re here so that no one in our community faces
childhood cancer alone. We our moving ahead to broaden our impact in the community and deepen our services to the families we support. Please be courageous in your actions, outrageous in your generosity by making a contribution through the Heart Beat program today! The mind gives us thousands of ways to say no, but there is only one way to say yes, and that’s from the heart.