Prescribe Joy to Seriously Ill Kids and Teens

When we say that Joshua has a winning smile, we mean it literally – this cheerful little guy actually won a trophy at his school for having the best smile. His contagious grin lights up his entire face and delights everyone around him, from his family, to his teachers, to his medical team.

Joshua was born with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy. It keeps him confined to a wheelchair, but it hasn’t gotten in the way of his ability to have a good time. He loves teasing his two sisters, singing silly songs, watching cartoons, and going to the park with his dad.

He also loves Latin music and listens to it regularly on the iPad that he received from CCA’s Link program. “It’s so great,” said his mom Yoana. “We loaded it up with apps that are giving Joshua new ways to communicate with us.”

Yoana says her son’s positive attitude is an inspiration to everyone. “He’s very strong, and he never cries or complains. Usually people go through life grumbling about this or that, but not our boy. He goes through life smiling – and that makes him a hero to us.”

Joshua was recently named a CCA Community Hero and was honored at ceremony in May alongside his family and friends.

• Link, a community network of caring people and organizations that provides wishes and unites local families with essential needs and connections to resources.
• The Alexandra Ellis Caring Cabin™, a secluded home along the Pacific Coast nestled in 24 acres of surrounding woods with plentiful wildlife and a serene lake, provides an essential health connection with nature and an extraordinary place for families to relax and create once-in-a-lifetime memories.
• Chemo Pal Mentor® Program, an award-winning program that matches children and teens with trained adult mentors
• MyMusicRx®, a one-of-a-kind music medicine program that lets “kids prescribe” the music experience that feels right to them. The in-hospital program, led by MyMusicRx Specialists, includes bedside music and provides access to CCA’s digital music medicine program, MyMusicRx.org, which enables kids to play free music games, explore digital instruments and watch exclusive video song prescriptions from their favorite artists – whenever and wherever, 24/7

Links:

• Check out our website
• See more stories about how your donations make a difference
• Watch the Link Program in action

Kinsley is a 2-year-old girl that was diagnosed with Pilomyxoid Astrocytoma, a type of brain cancer, in June of 2014. Kinsley has been dealing with chemotherapy since she was only 9 months old and is now in the process of losing her sight. She also struggles to gain weight, faces the difficult task of dealing with anxiety, and had a tumor debulk over the summer. Kinsley and her family recently had a chance to visit the Alexandra Ellis Caring Cabin to help brighten up some of the very difficult and trying times she has been experiencing lately.

The Caring Cabin was the perfect place for her family to spend some much needed time together. During their stay, they enjoyed hanging out by the fireplace and everyone being able to act like kids in the game room.

Kinsley’s mom recently shared these thoughts about their trip with CCA: “Priceless memories were made, being able to act like a normal family, and not worry about hospitals… It was the best and most relaxing time we have ever had. And the best place to spend our first family vacation together…We just are truly blessed to have been able to stay at the cabin. And words cannot express our gratitude to all that makes it possible.”

• The Alexandra Ellis Caring Cabin™, a secluded home along the Pacific Coast nestled in 24 acres of surrounding woods with plentiful wildlife and a serene lake, provides an essential health connection with nature and an extraordinary place for families to relax and create once-in-a-lifetime memories.
• Link, a community network of caring people and organizations that provides wishes and unites local families with essential needs and connections to resources.
• Chemo Pal Mentor® Program, an award-winning program that matches children and teens with trained adult mentors.
• MyMusicRx®, a one-of-a-kind music medicine program that lets “kids prescribe” the music experience that feels right to them. The in-hospital program, led by MyMusicRx Specialists, includes bedside music and provides access to CCA’s digital music medicine program, MyMusicRx.org, which enables kids to play free music games, explore digital instruments and watch exclusive video song prescriptions from their favorite artists – whenever and wherever, 24/7.

Links:

• Check out our website
• See more stories about how your donations make a difference