The Katia Solomon Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) Foundation
2008 has been a year of helping families and working within the community in different ways. By visiting the Past KSF Events you can see some of the Events KSF has been able to participate in not only in our local Bay area but in other areas of Florida as well.
The Katia Solomon Foundation has worked with several families over 2008 in the way of guidance and resources as they were consumed with the stresses of dealing with both the medical side of a family member and the ongoing issues of day to day life.
A cancer diagnosis or the news a loved one will need a bone marrow transplant requiring an extended stay in the hospital away from home affects the entire family causing a great deal of stress in many areas of life.
The Katia Solomon Foundation works with families who are unable to receive the proper medical attention due to many reasons in helping them find the appropriate resources allowing a better chance of survival or a higher quality of life.
"As long as there is life, there is hope."
Another way the Katia Solomon Foundation has been able to offer help is in donating household appliances through KSF's "Sharing and Caring Program". This is something that has brought great relief at a crucial time for families with donated items from our own community. To learn how you can help contribute to this program, click HERE
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Always, the Katia Solomon Foundation continues in its efforts to provide education and raise awareness to increase donors in the National Marrow Donor Program Registry as well as make known the need for regular blood product donation.
The Katia Solomon Foundation helps support the National Marrow Donor Program with donations toward helping add donors to their National Marrow Donor Registry.
Everytime a drive is held, it is adding numerous registrants to the National Marrow Donor Registry. This gives each person on seeking a marrow match that many more chances of finding a marrow match.
KSF also was able to help the National Marrow Donor Program again with a contribution of $5100.
Letter from NMDP December 2007
KSF has found many ways and resources to help families such as gift cards, visits for encouragement, counseling, prayer, helping with pressing bills such as late mortage, utility payments, gas cards and so many other things we often don't think of until something as pressing as a family member getting seriously sick takes our mind away from our daily routine for a longer period of time than we would ever imagine possible.
Thanks to contributions and past fundraisers we have participated in, we have been able to help quite a few families through the end of 2007 and hope to be able to help even more in 2008.
KSF needs to raise emergency relief funds for families.
Tax deductible donations will make this possible.
Also, please become a blood donor and register as a marrow donor. Regular blood donation saves lives on a daily basis and becoming a marrow donor is now done by simply having a cheek swab. You can learn more about this by visiting the National Marrow Donor Program Website. Thank you so much for your interest and coming by the Katia Solomon Foundation website. We hope you will pass this websote and information along to your friends, family and coworkers.
Katia Solomon Foundation contributing to Florida Blood Service's National Marrow Donor Program
Picture of Signing up to be a Marrow Donor
There is also a need for involvement in helping families. Families facing cancer go through many changes and face many unplanned needs. Below are just a few of the families the Katia Solomon Foundation has been able to somehow help.
Estephany Portillo
10 years old, with her Mom.
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Estephany was diagnosed with Fanconi Anemia(FA). This news came about after she has been sick with bleeding troubles and other symptoms for a few years. Due to her mother's concern, they obtained travel visas to leave Honduras and come to the US to seek an answer and treatment to why Estephany had been so sick.
The biggest problem this family is facing is a complete lack of insurance and the ability to now qualify for insurance. Also the continued need to keep Estephany's medical Visa up to date was something the family really needed help with. Estephany needs medicines and a bone marrow transplant to save her life. Without insurance, they would have not been accepted for transplant at any hospitals. But, with the help of The Katia Solomon Foundation, All Children's Hospital, Cincinatti Children's Hospital, and Congressman Jim Davis' Office, Estephany was approved to recieve her ongoing medical care, Bone Marrow Transplant and FollowUp Care!
UPDATE ON ESTEPHANY'S PROGRESS!
February 24, 2006, Estephany had her Bone Marrow Transplant with her family by her side! With the help of The Katia Solomon Foundation's involvement in her behalf, so many came together to make this miracle possible.
To name just a few of the people that helped;
All Children's Hospital
Cincinnati Children's Hospital
Angel Flights
Congressman Jim Davis's Office
Super Q 1300 AM
Restaurante El Rincon Catracho (local Honduran Restaurant)
and so much community involvement.
UPDATE ON ESTEPHANY NOVEMBER 2006
Portillo Family October 2006
Estephany continues to do well. Her recent followup visit to Cinncinatti shows her marrow is in GREAT shape! She is nearly ready to return home to Honduras. Estephany was VERY SICK in December 2005 and as an answer to prayer, December 2006 she will be a living miracle. Thank you for following Estephany, helping the Foundation to help families like the Portillo Family and for your continued prayers. "Love comes back when you give it to someone else."
December 23rd Tampa Tribune Article on Estephany
December 18th St. Pete Times Article on Estephany
Angel Durham
is a 17yr. old girl with Down Syndrome, recently diagnosed with Leukemia. She has been very active: a soccer player, Girl Scout, Special Olympics bowler, chorus singer, cheerleader and safety monitor for Nina Harris Exceptional School. Angela is currently undergoing Chemo, where her treatment/ recovery is expected to last up to two years. The Katia Solomon Foundation was able to help Angela's family with pressing utility bills and will continue to follow her progress.
^Lisseth Bonilla^ was diagnosed with cancer that had already spread throughout her body. She was placed on Hospice care in June 2006 and passed away on July 19, 2006. The Katia Solomon Foundation was able to help the family in finding information on Funeral Arrangements as well as being able to help them financially and with much needed moral support. Lisseth Bonilla was 24 years old.
Yadira Jiminez
Yadira's little boy
Yadira is an 18 year old young lady who was diagnosed with High Risk Leukemia ALL. She also has a 2 year old son to take care of. Yadira does not have insurance coverage and is alone going through treatments as well as trying to provide a home and take care of her little boy. The Katia Solomon Foundation has been able to help in numerous ways. Currently, we are working with ACH to see if Yadira's family in Mexico may have a bone marrow match for her to undergo a transplant. Yadira struggles with basic care. We have been able to help with phone bills, groceries and support and information. Please help us give Yadira and her little boy the help she needs.
Jacob LaDuke
Jacob was diagnosed with leukemia AML in September 2005. He has undergone numerous treatments and is currently in remission. The Katia Solomon Foundation was able to help Jacob's family recently toward medical bills.
Jerry Gomez
Jerry Gomez had been fighting Lymphoma for 8 years. His disease progressed to him needing a Bone Marrow Transplant to save his life. The Katia Solomon Foundation was able to help Jerry by participating in Marrow Drives to try to help Jerry (as well as thousands of others seeking Marrow Matches) a match. Jerry received his bone marrow transplant on July 28, 2005. Following transplant, he was able to return home to be with his family. In December 2005, Jerry entered the hospital fighting a few different issues and was diagnosed with PML, Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy. Jerry passed away April 1, 2006. His life will forever be remembered.
"Love comes back when you give it to someone else."
^Angel^ Joshua and Mom, Glenda Cevallos
After the passing of their son, Joshua, the Cevallos family needed help with unplanned funeral cost. Joshua had recently undergone transplant. His brother had also undergone transplant which was successful at saving his life from a fatal blood disorder.
^Rafael^ and his family faced many months at the hospital for treatment. Sadly, Rafael passed away before he could have a bone marrow transplant. Rafael's family needed assistance to help pay the cost of having their son's remains transported back to his home, Honduras.
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Deseray
^Deseray Bravo^
Deseray was diagnosed with leukemia ALL in August 2000. She went through radiation, chemo, spinal taps and remained in remission for a year. Then the cancer came back, very strongly and rapidly progressing. She needed a Bone Marrow Transplant. Her sister was her match. In September 2003, she underwent a bone marrow transplant. Deseray passed away in November 2004. The Katia Solomon Foundation was able to help the family during Deseray's treatment with pressing bills.
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^Carlos^ (2nd from left) Murillo with his family.
Carlos was diagnosed in January 2006 with leukemia ALL/AML. He underwent treatments to reach remission and had a bone marrow transplant on May 4, 2006. In June Carlos was rushed to ICU due to infection. Carlos passed away June 15th surrounded by his Mom and Dad and his sister, Maria Jose.
The Katia Solomon Foundation was able to help Carlos' family with information, support, friendship and financial assistance. Carlos' family plans to help the Katia Solomon Foundation so that many others can learn how to register as a marrow donor and save lives.
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Please continue to support the Katia Solomon Foundation, in its efforts, to help many other families.
KATIA SOLOMON FOUNDATION, INC
PO BOX 22375
TAMPA, FL 33622
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Your help is greatly appreciated. Please register as a marrow donor.
PLEASE VISIT THE SITE AGAIN