Patient Stories
Amy is a 14 year old beautiful young lady. She was diagnosed with Leukemia on 2008 but finished her treatment on 2011. She now receives treatment every 3 months and coming from Fallbrook, she is so grateful to be able to use Ride with Emilio to come to Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego. She wants to become a Pediatrician and make a difference in children’s lives, just like her doctors did with her. Her favorite things to do are spending time with friends and family, reading and shopping.
Donate today to Ride with Emilio and help us make a difference in children’s lives!
Lilia is a vivacious 20 year old who enjoys school and hopes to one day have a family of her own. 9 years ago she was
diagnosed with a blood disorder and due to a weak immune system, she developed many other conditions. Because of her rare diagnosis, they had no one to turn to until they found ENF. Her mom enjoys our Knitting and Sewing for Hope program and has created wonderful items for Lilia. In addition, thanks to Ride with Emilio, Lilia has been able to keep her appointments and treatment up to date and her future is as bright as her smile.
Donate Today, to our Ride with Emilio Transportation program and to help provide materials for programs such as Knitting & Sewing for Hope- for parents and patients receiving hospital treatment.
Stephanie was diagnosed in 2009 with CIDP -Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy. This disease causes her muscles to get weak like spaghetti, and without chemotherapy treatment, it affects her breathing, throat, vision and legs. She visits Rady Children’s Hospital twice a week and sometimes receives treatment for up to 10 hours. Now 11 years old, Stephanie and her mom love ENF’s Knitting for Hope program and together, they have made some wonderful creations. She is always smiling and is a joy to be around. She loves to help others and has raised over $300 for ENF’s Emilio’s Snack Bags program by selling candy and chocolate. Thank You, Stephanie for helping other children and for being such a big part of ENF!
Donate Today, to help provide materials for programs such as Knitting for Hope, for parents and patients receiving hospital treatment.
Since the day Gisselle Marie, “Sisi”, was born on May 18th , everyone knew she was a very special princess. She was diagnosed when she was 13 months old with Neuroblastoma and is now receiving treatment at Rady Children’s Hospital. Now, at age 2, she is very active and loves everything a princess should, lipstick, makeup, flowers and tiaras. She also loves singing and dancing and has a very special place in her heart for hello kitty. Sisi and her family have very limited means of transportation and ENF is more than happy to assist them in our “Ride with Emilio” transportation program. We are proud to say Sisi is one of ENF little stars!
Donate to Ride with Emilio’s Transportation Program to help kids like Sisi get to treatment on time and safely!!
Oscar is a shining star. One day, he may very well be one. He has many dreams and inspirations. He wants to be an actor, or maybe a marine biologist perhaps. He loves all musical instruments, art, dancing, or just hanging out with friends and family. His smile is captivating! Oscar was diagnosed January 9, 2009. Despite his battle with Leukemia, this thriving 13 year old is loving life to its fullest. He never passes up the opportunity to get involved and help out others. His Mother and brother Tito are very involved in “giving back”. His mother often remembers how much time she spent at our Family Resource Center, where she did most of her office work while in the hospital. They volunteer often and help out other families in need. They are very much a part of the ENF family.
Donate today to keep ENF’s Family Resource Center up and running for families like Oscar’s!
Hailey is a wonderful 6-year old, she likes to paint, and play with her younger sister. She wants to be a nurse when she grows up. She was diagnosed with kidney cancer, on both kidneys when she was only 10 months old. When she was diagnosed, the cancer was very advanced and despite chemotherapy, she lost both kidneys and received dialysis until she found a kidney donor in Sept 2010.
“ENF worked closely with us every step of the way. The quality of their service and the kindness of the staff have been a source of comfort all these years. We could not make it without the Ride with Emilio transportation services” Hailey’s mom.
Donate to Ride with Emilio’s Transportation Program to help kids like Hailey get to treatment on time and safely!!
Joel is an energetic, loving little 3 year old. Like most toddlers his age is very curious, and active. Anyone who comes in contact with him falls immediately in love with him. Joel has a very loving close family. His loving sisters and brother adore him and are never out of his sight. Unfortunately, he is battling pre-leukemia. Joel’s mother is deeply touched by all that ENF has provided for little Joel and his family. Joel’s Mom is very active in the Sewing for Hope class on Mondays and enjoys sewing for her family. This also gives her a chance to interact with other Moms in similar circumstances. She is so appreciative of even the smallest gestures because she knows these are truly gifts from the heart.
Donate to ENF’s Sewing and Knitting for Hope Program to provide families like Joel’s with new skills and support!!
Jose, lovingly called by the ENF staff as Joselito, is 11 years old. He likes school and playing with his younger sister. He wants to be a firefighter, a police officer and everything life will allow him to become. His life, he would say, is pretty normal, but, at one time, it was marked by numerous visits to the hospital, traveling by bus 5-hours each way, since he was only 1 year old, to get to Rady’s Children’s Hospital in San Diego. In 2003, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. After multiple surgeries, he relapsed 3 more times. When his family enrolled in the ENF’s Transportation Program, Joselito’s trips were reduced to only 90 minutes to and from the hospital.
“ENF is our family, we still come to the hospital frequently and we have to see everybody…like family” – Joselito’s mom
“After our son relapsed with leukemia, our hopes for his survival were few. We faced the difficult decision to continue with chemotherapy or opt for a radical change through a bone marrow transplant (BMT). Both decisions were not too promising. We asked God to guide us in making the right decision and we chose BMT, over chemotherapy, with much uncertainty. Fortunately for us, a friend introduced us to Richard and Diane Nares, who had experienced a similar situation. They found the strength to share their story with us, and gave us the courage to face the challenges of our decision. In spite of only knowing them for a short time, Richard and Diane were committed to helping us through these difficult times, and they became our most avid supporters. They were there for us in every sense, in a way that only family can. Diane spoke in front of our church congregation. The people responded overwhelming and many joined the bone marrow registry that day. They gave us their understanding, they listened to our fears, they shared our emotions, and they comforted us. They were with us through the uncertainty, they supported us from a distance and by visiting us in the most difficult moments of the procedure. And now even though the most difficult times seem to be behind us, they are still with us. For all these, and for the nobility of their souls, we hold Richard and Diane very dear to our hearts.” –Luz, Martin’s mom
When I first found out about Aplastic Anemia, I was lost, and then I met Richard through Mrs. Pam. That was one of the best things that happened to Stefon and me, because then I had someone to talk to that understood what I was going through. Mr. Richard helped us to get help with things I didn’t know I could get help with. Richard and his wife help us with Blood and Bone Marrow Drives. They have made my child one happy little boy. I truly thank Mr. Richard and his foundation very, very, much.
Love, Kathy Harris – 10 year old Stefon’s mother.
“My five year old daughter was diagnosed with Adreno Cortical Carcinoma Cancer last year. The news was heartbreaking and devastating and we felt that our world had come to an end.
We have been blessed with meeting Mr. Richard Nares for the Emilio Nares Foundation. It has been a support in all means; the caring, understanding and meeting our needs wherever possible, but overall always finding an answer or solution to our questions.
We would like to thank the foundation once again for all you have done in making the difference in this difficult journey. We know and feel that the Emilio Nares Foundation is, in brief words: Somebody to count on and a shoulder to lean on.”
Melanie’s mom
Melanie 10 years ago
Melanie Now
Now, Melanie is 13 years old and has been off treatment for 9 years!
