CCFNM TO CELEBRATE 50 YEARS OF HELPING NEW MEXICO’S KIDS WITH CANCER | |
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The Children’s Cancer Fund of New Mexico, a 501-c-3 not for profit organization, was established in 1972. After one of their classmates was diagnosed with cancer, students in a Southern New Mexico Elementary School conducted an event called “Mile of Pennies” to raise funds to help children with cancer. The money was sent to the University of New Mexico Pediatric Oncology Program and thus began the CCFNM. In 2022. the CCFNM will celebrate its 50th Anniversary.
In 2001, the CCFNM acquired a grant to purchase its office at 112 14th St. SW in Albuquerque and hired its first Executive Director. Today, the CCFNM has three full-time staff members, a part-time Artist-In-Residence, and a contracted Psychologist, who provides counseling to children and families. The UNM Hospital generously provided the CCFNM with an office in 2011 where we administer our services to children with cancer and their families.
The CCFNM provides services to over 300 children and their families each year and operates on a budget of nearly $800,000.
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CCFNM VALUES
The CCFNM works to assure that every person in New Mexico who is diagnosed with and treated for pediatric cancer at a New Mexico Pediatric Oncology Facility, receives the resources necessary to ensure that they have access to the best possible care for their physical, emotional and financial well-being.
The CCFNM works collaboratively with community partners for the well-being of our children and families.
The CCFNM values and appreciates our volunteers and donors and strives to be excellent stewards of the funding they provide for our families.
The CCFNM is dedicated to assuring the sustainability of our organization and has created an endowment fund to assure necessary resources will be available to serve those children with cancer in the future.
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EXPANSION OF CCFNM SERVICES
The CCFNM Board of Directors voted to expand our services to include persons over the age of 19 who are diagnosed with a pediatric cancer requiring a pediatric cancer protocol and are treated at a New Mexico Pediatric Oncology Facility. As a result, the Board also voted to change the CCFNM Mission Statement to read:
The Children’s Cancer Fund of New Mexico exists to help persons from New Mexico who have been diagnosed with and treated for childhood cancer (at a New Mexico Pediatric Oncology Facility) and their families cope with the day-to-day educational, emotional and financial needs of living with and fighting cancer.
This underserved group of patients are grateful to receive the assistance now offered by CCFNM.
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CCFNM KIDS PAY IT FORWARD | |
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Johnny was diagnosed with cancer at the age of five. He is now 12 years old. He plays ice hockey, is in his school’s chess club, writes and recites poetry and has already chosen which college he wants to attend…PRINCETON!
Johnny met Jordyn while the two were receiving cancer treatment at UNM. They lived in the same town and became good friends. Unfortunately, Jordyn passed away. His Mom created the Jordyn Pillow Fund at CCFNM. Jordyn (and Johnny) had to travel several miles to treatment and usually felt very tired afterwards and on the way home, he relied on his pillow to make him more comfortable. Jordyn’s Mom wanted to make sure all the kids had the same type of comfort. Johnny will be holding a fundraiser in March to purchase more Jordyn pillows. Thank you Johnny.
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Johnny and his sister Mary Louise on their first day of school this year. | |
Elijah was ten years old when he passed. Each year on his birthday, his parents hold a toy drive and donate them to CCFNM and other organizations who helped him through his cancer journey. This year they donated over 200 toys to the CCFNM. | |
Elijah's parents making their birthday toy donation this year. | |
Sawyer was diagnosed in August and is 15 years old. Sawyer and his siblings make origami cranes. The family was at the Holiday Market in Nob Hill where they sold origami jewelry they made and donated part of the proceeds to CCFNM in gratitude for the help they have received during his treatments. | |
Sawyer and his family donating the money raised from their holiday craft fair. Right to left: Qunicy (sister), Sawyer, and Bernadette (mother) | |
2021 Events
CCFNM was pleased to host several Covid safe events for families through the year. With the help from community partners, CCFNM families were able to experience family events with ease while we navigate the pandemic. Being able to host events is very important to CCFNM as we feel it offers some hours of relief to families who may be experiencing stress in their day to day lives.
For the second year, CNM Security hosted a July summer night drive-in movie well stocked with popcorn and candy. Families were able to enjoy a showing of Coco under the stars. Along with the movie, AFD Firefighters and CNM Fire Science Program presented their fire trucks and allowed kids to climb in, explore and hang out with the crew.
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In August, Ms. Shunnae Love, owner of Flower Loop, hosted a “Flower Power” Boot camp for all our aspiring florists. Love instructed her students on how to assemble an arrangement, what their birth flower is, and how flowers help us! | |
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. During the month, CCFNM sent families to the zoo and worked with the UNM Women’s Soccer and Football Team to raise awareness. During the soccer match, the team partnered with the Davis family and raised funds for CCFNM. The month was wrapped up with a football game. Families enjoyed a tailgate and cheered on the lobos. During both games, patients were invited on the field for a moment of recognition and awareness—along with a win from both teams! Be Bold, Go Gold! | |
UNM Athletics continued to show support to CCFNM by allowing us to host a Halloween Party for families at the football stadium in October. Over 25 families dressed up for an afternoon with jumpers, treats, pumpkin painting, and a show by Science Girl. | |
Also, during the month of October, a private donor sent families to McCall’s Pumpkin patch were they were able to pick a pumpkin and spend the day on the farm. | |
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We see over 200 families a year from all over New Mexico! This year to spread extra Holiday Cheer we offered tickets to River of Lights or funds they could use for an event in the family’s community during the month of December.
We would to thank our community partners who are so generous to CCFNM Families through the year; their support reaches so many.
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COUNSELING AT CCFNM
SONJA CLARK, PSYD
CCFNM’s behavioral heath therapy program continued to develop throughout 2021. New clients began therapy, some clients returned for a “tune up”, and some established clients have continued therapy. Some clients have completed treatment, some have dropped out of therapy, and unfortunately we have lost some of our patients.
In addition to individual sessions, in September, we began a new Adolescent Group which meets every other Wednesday. The Adolescent Group is open ended (meaning there is no established time frame in which to complete the group). Group will continue as long as there is a demand for the service.
Our behavioral health therapy services are extended to not only cancer patients, but to family members and caregivers as well. In an effort to include family members and caregivers, we began plans for an anti bullying presentation to take place in January of 2022. Though Covid slowed the progress of the presentation, we look forward to presenting a combination in-person and virtual anti bullying educational seminar at one of the charter schools in Albuquerque. Some of the long time presenters will join us. We are grateful that they continue to be willing to address this important subject. As we know, bullying emerges from fear and insecurity. The best intervention is education. It is important to provide an effort through which our patients are exposed to less stress and more acceptance.
Our program looks forward to extending our services to an expanding population to include adults diagnosed with common childhood cancers such as leukemia and certain types of lymphomas. Adults are often treated on the pediatric oncology units, as the protocols currently in place are similar to those administered to children. These adults will enter the counseling and therapy program in the same manner as our children and adolescent patients. All the adult patients need to do is request the service once they know therapy is available.
I have been honored to work with CCFNM through providing counseling services, and I look forward to providing our expanded program in 2022.
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ARTIST IN RESIDENCE
ANGUS MACPHERSON
Our Artist-in-Residence Program continues to provide opportunities for art with the children in treatment. During cancer treatments time is spent waiting. Waiting for a treatment to begin and waiting while a treatment takes place. Art provides an entertainment, a diversion, and at times — at best — an engagement that can help transcend the moment. Children show an excited interest when learning something new — the way watercolors mix, or how easy it is to make a duck out of Model Magic for a couple of examples.
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There are three areas at UNMH where our pediatric oncology patients frequent: 1) The Specialty Unit on the sixth floor, where children and a family member stay overnight or for extended stays. I do art with children in their room, involving the parent or guardian if they are interested (which can certainly enhance the experience for the younger children). 2) The Infusion Area, also the sixth floor, where children come as out-patients to receive treatments. This is my best place for having children enjoy some art. 3) The Clinic where children go for checkups and doctor visits on the third floor of the old wing. I do not work there. However, it is the location of a mural several children and I created. The project took a few months of collecting the artwork from the young artists and to put it together. It was installed in early December 2021. The mural is a celebration, congratulating the patients for the hard things they do while in treatment. | |
We have had several themed projects where the young artists are contributing to the collective. Several children at UNMH and at an Erin’s Place workshop painted birdhouses and paintings to sell at a July fundraiser. The painted birdhouses were very popular, all hanging on a birdhouse tree, they sold out in an instant. | |
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ERIN TRUJEQUE MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
The Erin Trujeque Memorial Scholarship was established in 1989. The scholarship is awarded to students who have been diagnosed with and treated for childhood cancer at a New Mexico Pediatric Oncology Facility and wish to continue their education beyond high school. The scholarship has helped hundreds of students who battled childhood cancer to realize their dreams. Some have become doctors, nurses, engineers and teachers.
During the 2021-22 Academic year, thirty students have been awarded the scholarship. Twenty-three are attending New Mexico colleges or universities and seven are attending out-of-state schools. At the end of the 20-21 academic year the cumulative grade point average for all students was 3.60 with seven students achieving a 4.0 or better. This academic year the CCFNM will have provided over $200,000 in scholarship awards.
Recipients are required to complete at least 12 hours of community service to the CCFNM in order to be eligible to receive the award.
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Clinic News
The CCFNM Clinic office at UNMH reopened on March 28 after three months of closure due to COVID restrictions at the hospital. We are delighted to be able to see all our families again.
Our administrative office is also delivering services curbside for our Presbyterian patients and families.
It has been such a joy being able to hand out toys again to our young patients and gift cards to our older patients as well as snacks and meal cards. We continue to follow COVID-19 guidelines and take the necessary precautions in our clinic and administrative offices.
Fuel Cards, Cafeteria/ Meal Cards, and Gift Cards
CCFNM has $15 food cards from Dions, Golden Pride, McDonald's, Subway, and Albertsons. After appointments, CCFNM patients call our office or stop in to our office at UNMH to pick these up. We also provide fuel cards and toys or gift cards. We also offer beautiful handcrafted quilts that have been donated by quilting groups in Valencia County. Jordyn’s Pillow Fund also purchases pillows for children who are being hospitalized or who have long drives home from treatment. They are covered by donated handmade pillow cases from the same group. CCFNM also helps families with emergency financial assistance upon request.
Families Served
To date in 2021, CCFNM has served 283 families with cafeteria/meal cards, fuel cards, and gift cards. We also work with a program called PNM Cares who offers financial assistance to CCFNM patients for their PNM bills in the amount of $250. We have 38 families to date that have been approved for this assistance.
Tutoring Program
We currently have three patients being tutored by CCFNM volunteers. Tutoring is being done through Zoom at this time, but all are working very successfully and enjoying the help and assistance our tutors can provide.
Patients Diagnosed in 2021
So far in 2021 we have 43 new diagnoses. Upon diagnosis, Pediatric Oncology Social Workers send us an intake form for the patient and we immediately start providing the services to the patient and family and call them to let them know how CCFNM can help them during this difficult time.
Deaths
Sadly, eight CCFNM kids have passed away this year. This, as you can imagine, is a very difficult time for families so CCFNM helps with funeral expenses if the family requests this assistance. It is very difficult for CCFNM staff as we do grow close to these precious children and feel deeply for the loss the family is suffering.
In Memory of:
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Victoria G.
Jose “Manny” L.
Balian T.
Waylon H.
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Brandon C.
Olivia A.
Kyla M.
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Natalie’s Story (as written by her mother):
Natalie is a 12-year-old little girl whose world got turned upside down in April of 2019. Natalie was having some issues with her vision so we took her to the eye doctor, thinking she may just need glasses. The eye doctor sent her to a specialist who then sent her to the ER where she was diagnosed with an Optic Pathway Glioma. They found a tumor in Natalie's brain that was causing damage to her optic nerves and damaging her eyesight and her pituitary gland. The oncologist told us that Natalie had to go through a year of chemotherapy treatments and that the tumor was inoperable. After the second chemo treatment, Natalie had an MRI and miraculously the tumor had disappeared. She still continued treatment. Natalie underwent 10 months of treatment until her body said enough was enough. Natalie never complained throughout the whole process. The day before what was supposed her 11th treatment, she said, "Mom, I don't think I can do this anymore." The medicine was starting to do damage to her hearing and she just wasn't bouncing back. Her blood counts were low and she had to have blood and platelet transfusions often. Finally, the doctors decided to stop the treatment and just follow up with MRI's every three months.
Natalie's scans were clear but in June 2020, they saw an "area of concern." Meanwhile, we started to notice Natalie was babying her right arm. We thought she injured it at the lake. I took her in to urgent care to make sure she was okay. All tests came back fine, which made me worry that it was something neurological. I called the neurosurgeon right away. They scheduled another MRI and with those results decided that it would be best to have a biopsy done. The "area of concern" was growing pretty rapidly. On September 10, 2020, Natalie went into surgery for a craniotomy so they could collect a sample of the tissue for a biopsy.
We had to wait over a month for results from the biopsy. Things with Natalie got pretty scary from a mom's point of view. She was physically losing abilities on her right side. She was finding it hard to comprehend things. She was losing memory and even her speech was difficult. We met with the doctor and we didn't get very good news. They diagnosed Natalie with anaplastic astrocytoma, which is a very aggressive, grade 3 tumor. Right away I started doing research and reaching out to other families that have gone through the same diagnosis. I wanted to be prepared with knowledge when we met with the doctor for treatment options. We met with the doctor and he recommended Natalie go through radiation and chemo, this time oral chemo not infusions. I asked him about a different type of radiation that I knew wasn't offered in New Mexico. He was on board 100%. I contacted MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston Texas and got everything set up for Natalie. We had consultations with all kinds of doctors and they agreed that Natalie was a perfect candidate for this type of treatment. We were so blessed with love and support through that journey. We had to be away from home for 9 weeks for Natalie's treatment. She underwent 30 rounds of radiation and 42 rounds of oral chemotherapy. Her poor little body fought hard. Again, she had a tough time bouncing back. She had to have many blood and platelet transfusions and lots of hospital stays. She never had an appetite, didn't eat, and she was always tired. She lost her hair on one side. This tumor left her with right side weakness. She is unable to use her right arm/hand for anything and she has drop foot in her right leg. She is going to physical therapy and occupational therapy each once a week. She is determined to get them working again.
Now that treatment was complete and her body had recovered. She is physically getting back on track; it was time to get her back in school. It was a huge step for Natalie. When she got diagnosed she was in the 4th grade. Most of her treatments were through most of the 5th grade so she missed a lot. Covid and her second diagnosis hit during 6th grade, along with her treatment in Houston. Starting school again in person was now going to be 7th grade at the middle school. It was a much larger school where they now have to switch classes and have more responsibility. Natalie worked through the summer with a diagnostician doing testing to see where she was cognitively and academically so they would be ready for her when school started. The principal helped by giving her a modified schedule. Natalie went to school for a month where they would just roll her in her wheelchair to class and let her figure things out for herself. She would get overwhelmed and tell the teacher that she needed to go to the nurse. She would spend most of her days in the nurse's office because that was a safe place. Meanwhile, she was being marked absent in all of the rest of her classes. I reached out to the principal and special services to try and get help for Natalie but nothing changed. I was at my wit's end. I was sad and frustrated for Natalie. This wasn't fair to her. She deserved better. I thought about homeschool but didn't think that was fair either. She had already lost so much time and spent every day for the past few years with me during her treatments. I wanted her to be around other kids. I reached out to Children's Cancer Fund hoping they could help me find resources for homeschooling for Natalie. They ended up doing so much more. They informed me about a small school called Mimbres Academy. It is an accredited school and offers education for kids who are currently in treatment or have gone through treatment. This school has been such a blessing for Natalie. She is doing so well. The teachers are awesome and compassionate towards these kids. She is regaining her confidence. Her personality is blossoming again. She is willing to try things she didn't think she could do. She is a fighter and continues to amaze us.
Natalie continues to get MRI'S of her brain every 3 months to monitor everything. Since the completion of her treatment in January 2021, all of Natalie's MRI'S have shown no significant change, no sign of cancer or progression.
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Natalie and her BFF Ella. Natalie's family got Ella towards the end of her 1st round of treatments when Natalie was very sick and not feeling her best. They have been inseparable since! | |
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Thank you!
58th Special Operations Wing Top III (Private Org)
Albuquerque Woodworkers Association
Davis Family
DKD Electric
Elijah’s Toy Drive
First Financial Credit Union
Jimmy Carter Middle School
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Kirtland Federal Credit Union
NM Corvette Society
Sandia Prep Volleyball Team
Smiles for Mylah
Southwest Abatement Inc.
TFS and EXYTE
Total Facility Solution
UNM Women’s Soccer Team
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2021 Grants
CHI St. Joseph’s Children
Lineberry Foundation
Stage Fund
William I Smith Foundation
Finance of America Cares
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Craig, Founder and President of 34 Degrees, approached CCFNM in September regarding his participation in the Haymakers For Hope charity boxing match. Craig explained that after losing his own father to cancer and his work as a pediatrician in New Mexico, he had selected CCFNM as the recipient for donations made to his match. Craig won his match (yay!) and raised over $16,000 for New Mexico’s children battling cancer. Thank you for taking one on the chin for CCFNM, Craig! | |
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KEEPING OUR KIDS WARM AND COZY
Through the generosity and hard work of the Valencia County Quilters and the Bits and Pieces Group (also of Valencia County), hundreds of CCFNM kids have received a beautiful handmade quilt. The groups regularly bring quilts as well as handmade pillow cases for our kids. Our kids are very grateful for this precious gift.
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Arlo with his cozy quilt. | |
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KEEPER OF THE GAME
“The mission of Keeper of The Game is to provide kids and young adults with special needs and disabilities unique baseball experiences that foster the growth of those individuals and their love of baseball. Keeper of The Game promotes programs that allow these athletes to play, watch and experience baseball at a very personal level.”
Through this program, Rawlings Sports donated youth gloves to Head Baseball Coach at the University of New Mexico, and now retired, Ray Birmingham. Coach Birmingham in turn donated them to the Children’s Cancer Fund of New Mexico to distribute to our kids. Thanks to Rawlings Sports and to Coach Ray Birmingham, now a member of the CCFNM Board of Directors.
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Jeremiah with his new glove ready to play ball! | |
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2021 Unaudited Financials:
Income YTD: $794,296.58
Expenses: $548,200.64
Net: $246,095.94
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37th ANNUAL ERIN TRUJEQUE MEMORIAL | |
In July 2021, we held the 36th Annual Erin Trujeque Memorial Pro-am, golf tournament, and Diamond Sponsored Dinner Event along with an online auction and scholarship drive. Overall, we raised over $280,000 with $79,000 going directly to our scholarship fund. We hope to see you all next year at our Gala, Pro Am and Golf Tournament July 7-8, 2022. CCFNM would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who participated in the success of the 36th Annual Event and hope to see you next year! | |
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Executive Board
Melissa Deaver-Rivera, President
Dee Dennis III,
President Elect
Greg Templeton,
Vice-President
Scott Czarniak,
Treasurer
Brent Franken,
Secretary
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Members
Allen Anaya
Dr. Joe Aragon
Ray Birmingham
Nicole Cosper
Debbie Dunlap
Ruben Gallegos
Dr. John Kuttesch
Jason Moorhead
Allen Sanchez
Robert Stroupe
Jill Sivage
Carmen Villalobos
Yvonne Wilson
James Zanios
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Staff
Diana Trujeque,
Executive Director
Ema Carabajal,
Finance and Event Manager
Sonja Clark, MS, PsyD,
Counseling Services
Jackie Jaramillo,
Clinic Liaison and Program Specialists
Angus Macpherson,
Artist in Residence
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