GOAL: Our goal is to supply as many DVD movies as possible to the Oncology/ Hematology department at Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC). They are in the process of switching all VHS players to DVD players and are in need of DVD movies.
All movies, new or used, any types, are appreciated. They must be rated G, PG or PG-13. The latest Disney movies are always popular!
ACTION: We invite you to join us:
Send new / used DVD movie(s) directly to CHOC:
- CHOC Child Life Support Dept.
455 S. Main St.
Orange, CA 92868
Attn: Brianne Ortiz / Tiffany’s Dream
Please include a note indicating this is for Tiffany’s Dream. Brianne at CHOC 714-532-8473 will help us to keep track and report our accomplishments including the names of all contributors.
Even one DVD from you will help bring smiles to many cancer patients. Hopefully we can help them escape from feelings of pain, fear, loneliness, and angriness, and instead focus on something fun and entertaining.
BACKGROUND: Tiffany, a granddaughter/ daughter/ niece/ cousin/ aunt, passed away peacefully on 12/05/08 in Children’s Hospital of Orange County. She had battled an incurable and very rare type of sarcoma cancer, Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor, since her diagnosis in June 2006. She went through a major surgery, 8-month chemo, 4-month radiation, many emergency visits to the hospital due to medical side effects, then, with nowhere else to turn, started a first cycle of a clinical drug trial prior to her death.
While taking turns helping Tiffany’s parents to care for her in the hospital, we noticed that Tiffany often looked at the TV when she’s awake, but there was not much for her to watch that was interesting. We would have loved to divert her attention from pain to entertainment, even for a short time.
There were no new VHS movies available. We sadly met many other cancer children who were also suffering from excruciating pain and loneliness.
Three days after Tiffany’s passing, we (her dad, aunts, and 3 cousins) returned to CHOC to visit her 8-year-old friend, who severely suffers from leukemia that has spread to her bones. Her friend is in pain and very lonely because most of the time she only has her mom with her. Her dad has to stay home taking care of her siblings. We brought her favorite movie “High School Musical” and decorated her room with some of Tiffany’s toys. Her mom said we made her day. Watching her happiness and beautiful smile through her pain awakened us all, we felt that we had at times taken life for granted, and we felt the need to do something, even a small thing, to help bring joy and erase physical and mental pain even for a few minutes or hours. We called for a short family discussion of how we can help. We unanimously voted for buying some meaningful gifts for these cancer kids instead of buying Christmas gifts for each other.
TIFFANY’S DREAM:
Tiffany always had a special relationship with children. She was very patient and caring with her younger cousins and children of all ages. She could feel when they were happy or sad, and always had a special way of helping them feel better. On Christmas day of 2007, Tiffany and her cousin brought presents for the cancer children in CHOC. While in the hospital and during recovery, Tiffany often visited and shared her teddy bears and balloons with other younger patients, wanting to help ease their loneliness.
The generosity from Make-a-Wish Foundation, Ronald McDonald camp and her child life support during her illness had deeply touched Tiffany’s beautiful heart and influenced her future plan: working at Jamba Juice at 15, learning how to drive and having a boyfriend at 16 (if dad permitted), volunteering as counselor at Ronald McDonald camp at 19, and working part time as child life support in a child oncology ward while attending college to become a kindergarten teacher. But her beautiful dream was cut devastatingly short.
We want to continue Tiffany’s dream by making a positive impact on children and helping them to be happy and enjoy their lives to the fullest as we know Tiffany would want.
IN CONCLUSION:
- We would like to carry on Tiffany’s dream of bringing smiles to children with cancer.
- Please spread the word among your family and friends to keep this 14-year old girl’s beautiful dream alive and benefit other unfortunate pediatric cancer patients.
- We will start with CHOC where Tiffany had received her cancer care from all of her wonderful caregivers who had been patiently and gently caring for her with all their hearts from the day she was admitted until her last breath.
- Your caring hearts and contributions will help make Tiffany’s dream come true!
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