 Our mission is to make a significant difference in the lives of others in need within our community and inspire others to accomplish incredible things. The Temecula Valley is a beautiful community filled with love, compassion and joy. The two components of the program are community outreach and communication strategies. These important components provide the opportunity for our residents to volunteer and to greatly strengthen the positive impact we have in our community.
Charity for Charity intends to achieve these goals through the special and unique event, “Stars of the Valley”, to be held the end of January, beginning of February each year. This event will raise funds to grant wishes to residents of the Temecula Valley as local residents pull together to invest in others. A wish experience will be a source of inspiration to the selected beneficiary(s) and have a positive impact that provides hope for the future. If you would like to nominate yourself or another resident of the Temecula Valley, you can access our referral form online or obtain a copy from a committee member. |
 Bethany Monson
In June 2007, when Bethany was 6, she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). This is supposed to be the most common and most treatable of all the childhood leukemias. Her treatment proceeded without any problems for two years. We were looking forward to the end of her treatment in Oct 2009, but in June, 2009 Bethany complained of vision problems in her right eye. It turned out she was completely blind in that eye, and the retina looked damaged. So after having a CT, a MRI and a visit to the retina specialist, it was decided that her cancer had returned in her optic nerve. She had officially relapsed, so it was back to chemotherapy, with new drugs this time, and radiation to her optic nerve. Her vision slowly improved as the cancer was killed, but even today she is partially blind in that eye.
Treatment seemed to be going well, until August 2010 when she began complaining of pain in her head. Not all over, but in one specific spot. Everything looked normal on her head, but she kept complaining of the pain. The doctors looked at her head, and ordered a head x-ray, but it didn't show anything. Her head began to look swollen, but at first it wasn't swollen enough to cause alarm. Then in October 2010 the swelling really increased, until there was definitely visible swelling. At that time a CT was ordered that showed swelling both outside the skull and inside. A biopsy was ordered and the result was cancer. This made relapse number two. More radiation was ordered to the whole head, and to the specific spot. More and different chemotherapy drugs, and more hospitalizations resulted. The doctors decided that a bone marrow transplant was her best option.
Prior to the transplant, Bethany had full body radiation, to kill off her own bone marrow cells. On February 25, 2011 Bethany received a bone marrow transplant from an unrelated, anonymous donor. The transplant was successful, but Bethany is still suffering with many complications from the transplant. She developed Graft vs. Host Disease, and developed some viral infections in part because of her weakened immune system. She takes lots of different medications on a daily basis. Some of these medications suppress her immune system, so she has to be careful when out in public so that she doesn’t get sick.
In August of 2011, Bethany developed air in her intestinal wall, and had to be hospitalized for 3 weeks due to the possibility of intestinal rupture. She was only home for 10 days, when she had to go back into the hospital because of pericardial effusion (fluid around her heart). The doctors attempted to drain the fluid, but there were complications, which resulted in additional fluid building up around her lungs, and the collapse of one of her lungs. She ended up staying in the ICU for 12 days because of this.
Bethany has medical insurance, but it does not cover the cost of prescription drugs, which are currently running in the thousands each month. Her father died in a car accident when she was 2 years old. Her mother stays home to take care of Bethany and her brother full time.
Her Wish!
Bethany's wish is to see snow and to stay at a cabin in the mountains to play in the snow!
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/bethanymonson |
 Linda Nelson
Linda Nelson is a daughter, sister, friend, wife, and busy mom with two young children. She is also battling Stage IV breast cancer.
Just prior to her annual mammogram, Linda found a lump in her breast. Following a biopsy that showed an aggressive tumor, Linda underwent a bilateral mastectomy. More tests revealed the cancer had spread to her liver, lymph nodes and hipbone. "I never even felt sick," Linda recalls when she heard the shocking news that she had Stage IV breast cancer. At the young age of 48, it was truly hard to believe.
Linda's diagnosis of triple negative breast cancer comprises about 10% of all breast cancer cases. Unlike many types of breast cancer, this particular kind does not respond to hormonal treatment. Scientists have only begun to study triple negative breast cancer in the last six years and they are just beginning to learn about it. It is extremely aggressive and has an overall poor prognosis.
Linda completed 8 months of chemotherapy in June 2011 and was in full remission, but scans taken only 3 months later revealed a relapse. The cancer had returned to her liver, lymph nodes and possibly a vertebra in the spine. Linda was devastated to hear the news, but she is currently participating in a clinical trial at the City of Hope. The new drug they are testing is still in its early phases but has shown promise in extending triple negative patient remissions. She is very hopeful about her future and maintains a positive outlook on life.
Linda’s wish:
I feel so blessed to have married my best friend – Mitch has been so loving and supportive through this whole ordeal. We have two beautiful children – Logan (age 10) and Lucy (age 8). Mitch and I have been married for 20 years and we love Yosemite so much we went there on our honeymoon. We went many times in the early years of our marriage. When I am trying to fall asleep at night or meditating, I visualize my favorite places there. The memories have faded a little, but it is still my “happy spot.” We were waiting for the kids to be old enough to go there and share the experience with them. Unfortunately I was diagnosed with stage IV cancer last September and we had to put our plans on hold. Now with the astounding amount of medical bills we have, we are unable to have a family vacation.
My wish is to visit Yosemite with my husband and share the beauty and grandeur with my children. I would love to see the looks on their faces as they take it all in! I have always wanted to stay at the Ahwahnee Lodge but would happily and gratefully stay anywhere.
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/lindaenelson |
