We Care In Anthem for CJ Soto
Writer Paula Theotocatos

“People who give can never be poor.”  Anne Frank

Thirteen-year-old CJ Soto is one brave kid, but he and his family have been going through a rough patch lately. Everything was going just fine for this active, computer-loving, golf enthusiast until April 13th when CJ’s Mom, Tami, received a call from Nurse David at Canyon Springs Elementary telling her that CJ’s eyes appeared yellow – a sign of jaundice. After a visit to CJ’s primary care physician, Tami and Craig, CJ’s father, found out that  something was wrong with his liver; possibly a virus attack. After two weeks at home, the symptoms grew worse (fever, loss of appetite, higher jaundice levels) and he was taken to Phoenix Children’s Hospital’s emergency room and released, followed by more home rest and further lab tests, which revealed that CJ’s jaundice and liver enzymes were getting higher. A GI specialist sent them back to Phoenix Children’s Hospital for more tests and on April 25, Tami and Craig were advised that CJ’s liver was failing. That same day, CJ was transported to the University Medical Center (UMC) in Tucson, which has a dedicated pediatric and transplant medical team.

In Tucson, CJ received more testing, liver biopsies, ultra-sounds, and IV treatments to try to revitalize his liver. He was diagnosed with Sub-acute Hepatitis - liver failure, caused by an unknown virus. The family returned to their home in Anthem on May 3rd and CJ was put on seven medications. But, nothing could stop the constant itching caused by the high jaundice levels; he couldn’t sleep and developed a rash, followed by a high fever. On May 4th, the family was back in the car again driving to UMC in Tucson.

The torment was not to end for young CJ. He had to be placed in isolation, since his white blood cell count was low and he didn’t dare contract any other illness. Unfortunately, another rash appeared and he was diagnosed with a Cocci virus (Valley Fever), which finally cleared up after treatment. CJ was discharged on May 18; the rash had disappeared, the white blood count was better, but his liver enzymes were still high. Tami and CJ remained behind in Tucson, staying at a family friend’s home, so that CJ could complete his outpatient treatment at UMC. CJ’s outpatient treatment will continue anywhere from several more weeks to two to four months before they can see if his liver will heal on its own.

Craig and Tami, who met in San Jose, California, moved to Anthem in 2000. In addition to CJ, they have a son, Devin, eight years old and a daughter, Jayden, seven. “They are close and very protective of each other,” Tami said. “This has been very hard for them to have their brother away and sick, and being away from Mom too. CJ and Devin love to spend time together playing computer games at Xtreme Computer Center, riding bikes, and playing Wii. CJ loves baseball, and was playing golf almost every weekend with his Grandpa (my dad Jim).” To make things worse, Jayden broke her arm at the same time CJ was being admitted to Phoenix Children’s Hospital and it was tough on Tami to not be able to spend time with her.

Tami and Craig are grateful to everyone at Canyon Springs Elementary for all the attention they paid to CJ. Nurse David constantly followed CJ’s progress, and teachers and students reached out to CJ by sending get-well notes and a signed yearbook to him. “We are so thankful for everyone at Canyon Springs for all their support and for lifting CJ’s spirits during this time,” Tami said.

Craig drives back and forth to Tucson every weekend to bring Devin and Jayden to see their brother, and Tami’s mother has been helping Craig with household and childcare chores. “We, like so many other people just never thought anything like this could ever happen to us, but we are a very strong family with a lot of love,” Tami said. “We are so lucky to have such wonderful family and friends and this great community we call home. CJ can’t wait to get home and get better. He misses his friends and misses golfing with his Grandpa. We will continue to stay in Tucson until we can see how his liver will do. He is now on nine different medications, and just keeping him comfortable is my number one job at the moment.”

CJ’s Website at Caring Bridge
Tami has created a page about CJ on the CaringBridge website, which is a free, non-profit web service that connects family and friends, allowing them to share information, love, and support during a person’s healthcare crisis. You can visit http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/soto and establish a profile that will allow you to read CJ’s journal, see photos, and leave messages for CJ in the guestbook.

We Care in Anthem Fundraiser for CJ on June 20

The Past Children of We Care

Joshua Thompson was seven when he was diagnosed with Medulla Blastoma, a cancer at the base of the brain. Most of the tumor was removed and after months of chemotherapy, the cancer went into remission. Joshua's father Jim has said, "The people and neighbors in Anthem are so wonderful that I can't even express it."

Jeremy Pascua was hospitalized when he was only six months old with the flu and pneumonia and was subsequently diagnosed with a heart condition - cardiomyopathy, or an enlarged heart. Jeremy is much improved, but Guy and Tina, Jeremy's parents, continue to monitor him on a daily basis to guard him against injuries or illnesses that might affect his heart.

Amber McCulley , a resident of New River , was just 14 years old when she was diagnosed with an extremely rare type of cancer called Synovial Sarcoma. Because of the large mass in her throat, she experienced breathing and eating difficulties, as well as side effects from multiple chemotherapy treatments. We Care In Anthem was able to help Amber financially until the family was able to secure better health insurance. Her mother, Laura, says. "We knew from the beginning that this was a terminal disease, but we went against hope - that if we could extend her life, maybe a medical miracle could be found." Sadly, Amber passed away last year.

Brooke York was just four years old when she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia. Brooke's numerous chemotherapy treatments, injections and transfusions left her tired and weak. But her will to survive was strong, helped no doubt by the outpouring of support and attention she received from We Care and the Anthem community. The York family has since moved from Anthem to Tulsa , Oklahoma and Brooke now shows no sign of the leukemia. "We Care is an amazing organization," said Brooke's mother, Redonna. "The financial help they gave us took a lot of the pressure off us so we could concentrate on Brooke."

The Crisis Nursery is a shelter in Maricopa County established in 1977 for young children who have been victimized by domestic violence, homelessness, neglect or other crises. There are three caregiver shifts daily and the shelter is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Each child taken in by the Crisis Nursery receives a warm bed, clothing, nutritious meals and nurturing by a trained and caring staff. We Care organized a golf tournament in the fall of 2003 and were able to donate over $16,000 to the Crisis Nursery!

Sophia Leal was diagnosed with a rare liver and incurable disease called Biliary Atresia on March 18, 2005. The Leals turned to the University of California 's San Francisco (UCSF) Children's Hospital for help, which had a well-renowned reputation as the best children's treatment center in California . On Mother's Day, 2005 a portion of Robin's liver was transplanted into Sophia's tiny body - Sophia's fourth operation at that time. After more operations, procedures and medicines, Sophia and her family were finally able to return to Anthem from California in October 2005. The Leals have since moved to Kentucky and the struggle to save Sophia's life continues. Sophia's mother Robin asks everyone to keep Sophia in their prayers.

Where to Send Your Donation: If any of us can help a child in crisis, even just a little bit, it can make all the difference in the life of that child. Even small donations add up. To make a financial donation to We Care In Anthem , make your check payable to We Care In Anthem , Wells Fargo Account # 8071793189 and send it to Wells Fargo Bank, 41830 N. Gavilan Peak Parkway , Anthem , AZ 85086 .

Anthem resident Iris Weiss, who heads the Ada G. Halbreich & Stanley T. Halbreich Foundation, presented a $25,000 check and matching challenge on March 17 to Brent Morris, Executive Director of the West Valley Child Crisis Center (WVCCC). Frank Grimmelman, WVCCC Chairman of the Board, headed a delegation of about twenty Anthem residents ton a visit o the center to witness the presentation and the unveiling and dedication of a statue and bench honoring that contribution, The dedication also recognized the efforts of the Anthem residents who donated furnishings and painted hand-drawn murals on the walls of two houses on the WVCCC Kids Campus. After a tour of the Kids Campus, the delegation enjoyed eating their share of a birthday cake presented to Iris who was also celebrating her birthday that day.

It's a sad fact that many children do not get a chance to enjoy the safe and comfortable lives that we try to provide for them. Unfortunately, many children suffer abuse and neglect at the very hands of their parents who should be their source of refuge from an unkind world. The West Valley Crisis Center provides temporary shelter to these children who have been removed from their homes by Child Protective Services. Until a foster home or permanent home can be found for these children, WVCCC gives them a place to sleep, fresh clothes to wear, nourishing food, medical and psychological care, toys, and loving attention from the staff and volunteers at the center. It costs approximately $186 a day per child to take care of a child. Fifty-three percent of the Kids Campus budget is funded by the State of Arizona and the remaining forty-seven percent has to be raised through donations, fundraising events, grants and gifts from corporations and foundations. Please contact them if you can give a donation or volunteer your time to help these children who find themselves in peril through no fault of their own.

INFO> West Valley Child Crisis Center, PO Box 850, Glendale, AZ 85311; 623-848-8863; www.wvccc.org

Fortunately, for Jim and Robin Leal, a wonderful organization was founded almost three years ago by a small group of residents in the young town of Anthem, when they saw a need to help children who were seriously ill. I am talking about We Care In Anthem, the organization that is dedicated to helping seriously ill children and their families. Many of you who have lived here for a few years are already aware of We Care, but for some of you, who have newly arrived, let me acquaint you with the background of how the organization got started and some of the wonderful work it has accomplished in the few years of its existence.

When we moved to Anthem in February of 2002, it was quite a small town. Anthem's neighborhood of houses stopped at what was to become Daisy Mountain Road and nothing had been built on the west side of 17. Since this brand-new community had been established less than three years earlier, it came as a welcome surprise that there was already a charitable organization in place - We Care In Anthem - to give assistance to families with seriously ill children.

All of the new residents of Anthem, a planned community created by the Del Webb Corporation, had moved from someplace else. Most of them had left family, friends and familiar neighbors behind in their former communities. They were looking for the better life and opportunity that Anthem represented and knew that, in time, they would develop new friendships and neighborhood contacts that would make them feel less alone. But, families with children suddenly diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, did not have the luxury of time.

We Care In Anthem was born in 2002 when Eric Kilstrom learned about Joshua Thompson, a seven-year old suffering from cancer, from his wife, Sara, when she attended a bunco benefit for Joshua run by fellow Anthem resident, Christine Eyde. "You have to do something for him," she told her husband. Eric and Sara knew first-hand what it was like to deal with a very ill child when their son, Griffin developed a growth on his bladder when he was very young. They remember how frightened and vulnerable they felt at the time. "I can't remember feeling any worst than that," he says. Luckily, it turned out to be a benign cyst, which was removed in an operation, leaving Griffin with a point of discussion among his friends - no belly button!

Never one to ignore a request from his wife, Eric got to work. Eric was the founder of the Business Network of Anthem, a confederation of Anthem businesses. So, Eric rounded up several of his business network contacts and they quickly threw together a new charitable organization to help Joshua. They hit the ground running - no time then to worry about formal rules and regulations just yet - just go out and do it.

They organized the first annual We Care In Anthem golf tournament and raised an impressive $27,000 for Joshua. Since then, they have held more golf tournaments, bunco nights, comedy nights at Franco's Ristorante in Anthem, served up delicious ice cream at the Cold Stone Creamery in Anthem and even volunteered to have their heads shaved at HedZ Salon - all to benefit seriously ill children. Since 2002, We Care has helped several other children besides Joshua, and the Crisis Nursery, (see sidebar) and is currently dedicating their efforts towards helping another Anthem child, Sophia Leal.

We Care In Anthem is now an official 501C3 non-profit organization and has a board of directors.

• Eric Kilstrom, who founded the organization, is the President.
• Andy Tobias, of Tobias Automotive Specialists, is Vice President, of whom Eric says, "He pushes me everyday to do more and better and has been the driving force behind our yearly golf tournament.
• Andrea Helderman, of Affordable Accounting Services, is the Secretary/Treasurer. She's the one who deposits the money raised by donations into a specially designated account at Wells Fargo (see "INFO" section below) and reimburses the parents. And, even though she has moved from Anthem, she is still dedicated to working with We Care .
• Anthem Attorney Florence Bruemmer makes sure all the legalities are followed.
• CPA Don Whitman is the Treasurer who helps Andrea keep their books in order and helped We Care obtain their 501C3 designation.
• Christine Eyde, the person who started the whole ball rolling when she held that first Bunco tournament for Joshua Thompson, is the PR Director.
• We Care could also not do without unofficial members John Sefton, the Parks and Recreation Manager for the Anthem Community Center, and Scott Foreman, pastor at the Fellowship Church in Anthem, both of whom are always willing to do whatever it takes to help people.

BRAVO! And a round of applause to all these great people and all the wonderful business and civic organizations who have made it possible for We Care In Anthem to do all the remarkable things they do to help children in crisis.