CELEBRITIES FORE KIDS
FAMILIES
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Gary Carter, Yasmine, Larry Laoretti
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Yasmine was only a few months old when her mother noticed that in photos the flash made one of her daughter’s eyes appear white. Though she took Yasmine to the doctor several times, this symptom was overlooked or misinterpreted until the mother finally asked to see a specialist who diagnosed Yasmine immediately with retinoblastoma, a rare cancer of the retina found most commonly in children under the age of 5. Yasmine was only 4 months old at the time she was diagnosed with cancer. Yasmine’s mother, Yara, is unable to work due to caring for a child who needs constant care and frequent chemotherapy. In fact, Yara must give Yasmine injections when her blood counts become too low. Dad, Mauricio, continues to work as a branch manager of a bank. The family drives two cars that have over 100,000 miles each and live as frugally as possible. Even with all their careful planning they could have never imagined that cancer would happen to their beautiful infant daughter. Now 6 months old, Yasmine cannot of course, comprehend the sacrifices her family has to make to fight for her life. Yasmine has doctors at Palms West Hospital in Royal Palm Beach and at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami. The gas alone is a burden on this young family who also have another child,
2 year old Andrew.
Celebrities Fore Kids is helping to maintain the mortgage and is providing gas cards for this family so that they are able to take Yasmine to the treatment that will save her life.
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Gary Carter, Tanner, Larry Laoretti
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Tanner is an amazing 10 year old boy from Port St. Lucie who was diagnosed with a brain tumor at age 8. Despite his long journey with chemotherapy, surgery and radiation he is left with residual deficits such as paralyzed vocal cords and being in a wheelchair. But he never complains and, in fact, he is an inspiration to everyone who knows him. His family has been supportive and by his side every step of the way – from mother, Debbie, who is a nurse, to Dad, Bruce, who runs and maintains the family business, and sister, Kelly, who worries constantly about her brother.
Celebrities Fore Kids was instrumental in helping this family maintain their daily living needs during this brave boy’s battle with cancer. Now Tanner is learning to negotiate possibly life-long disabilities. |
Gary Carter, Heather, Larry Laoretti
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Heather was 29 years old when she was initially diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease in April 2004. At the time she had a 6 year old son and a 3 year old daughter. In July 2006 Heather went to the Moffitt Cancer Center for a stem cell transplant and her mother cared for her for several weeks while she was there. Another family from her church provided care for the two children. In August 2007, Hodgkin’s had returned and Heather was again treated at Moffitt. She is presently receiving chemotherapy at The Robert & Carol Weissman Cancer Center. When she is able, Heather gives back. She was a recipient of “White Doves” a few Christmas’s ago and last year she volunteered to help other families. She also met a teenager, who was being raised, since birth, by her grandparents. Last month the grandfather died and the grandmother died prior; so now Heather wants to adopt the teenager and is providing her daily care.
Celebrities Fore Kids has helped Heather with her electric bill, rent payments and most recently her auto insurance.
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