My name is Amanda Robles and I have a loved one who has Leukemia, a form of Cancer.  The loved one is my 5 year old Miguel Claudio.  Miguel was diagnosed on January 20, 2006.  It all started with a scooter at home.  We brought him to the hospital and after doing some testing it was determined that Miguel had Cancer. The Doctor explained what procedures would need to be done.  They treated Miguel for 6 months with chemotherapy and he also received a bone marrow transplant which had to be done in Rochester, New York.  His 8 year old brother was the donor.  Miguel seemed to be doing well for a while but in June of 2008 he started to feel nauseous and couldn’t eat anything without vomiting. The doctors hoped that it was only a stomach bug but unfortunately after more testing and x-rays they found that the Cancer had returned.  This time they treated it with radiation therapy and chemotherapy for a 4 week period.  His last treatment was Monday, August 4, 2008.

We’re now taking it day by day just praying that the cancer won’t come back any time soon or maybe there will be a miracle and it never comes back. 

During the rough times in the hospital we started to have financial problems and it became really hard to take care of our other children.  We have four others who also needed our care and attention. 

I was fortunate enough to hear about Charity for Children from our Case Worker at Upstate Medical Center.  They recommended Miguel to Charity for Children and I was contacted by a woman named Nina Albino.  She explained about the charity and how they raise money to help local kids who are sick and their families.  She also explained to me about a man who she told our situation to and who wanted to donate money to help our particular family.  She sent me a Visa card the very next day to use for our immediate needs. Charity for Children also purchased a phone for us because we did not have a working phone and we need to be able to stay in touch with the doctor for Miguel.  Thanks to Charity for Children and that man, I was not only able to buy supplies and food that we needed for our family but we now feel so much more at ease having a telephone.

I am writing this little story to let people know how cancer has touched me and my family and how Charity for Children has touched our lives.  I am very grateful for what they have done for us. 

Thank you so much Charity for Children and our mystery man who has been so very generous.