Posts by mariahmcclerkin
Fabiana McCranie – Time to heal
“When life happens, you don’t have time to think; you just have to do.” When her father was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer that had already metastasized to the liver and brain during the summer of 2014, that’s where Fabiana McCranie found herself. An only child, she was thrust into the role of caregiver…
Read MoreDanny Rincon – After major accident, Hope Fund helps nurse get back on his feet
It was a beautiful October day, and Danny Rincon was out riding with his motorcycle club. As they rolled through the High Desert on their way back to Westlake Village, just northwest of Los Angeles, everything changed in an instant. “There were seven bikes, and I was second to last,” Danny recalls. “A guy came…
Read MoreAnita Butruce – Hope Fund eases employee’s mind during recurring health problems
After Anita Butruce spent nine days in the hospital battling a spinal infection, she hoped that the worst was past. Instead, she found herself dealing with some ongoing complications, including a blood clot, multiple MRIs and surgery. All told, she spent several months in and out of her doctor’s offices, when she would much rather…
Read MoreSussana Howard – We Lost Everything
“This is My Story” We lost everything in a fire. The only things salvageable were a bed, the pajamas we were wearing and Gabriel’s crib. With money from the Hope Fund, we were able to make a deposit on a new apartment. Maybe you can’t give a lot. Just give what you can – because…
Read MoreStephanie Sheldon – Surviving a Tragedy
On May 4, 2010, I was in a motorcycle accident that nearly took my life. The bike went through a fence and hit a tree. I was wearing full protective gear. I remember thinking, “wow it’s dark and there are no sounds. This is what it’s like when you die.” I woke up three…
Read MoreCecelia Sonnenberg – One Brave Girl
Cecelia Sonneberg knows that she’s sick. Some days she can barely eat or move. But this spirited 4-year-old doesn’t let the “canker sore in her eye” keep her down. Last January, Cecelia was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a cancer of the eye. Every three to four weeks she travels over 1,200 miles round trip for an…
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