Four-year-old Fatima Cobarrubios, like most girls her age, is a big fan of Disney princesses. They adorn her hat, her shirt, and even her shoes. But when she shyly removes her hat to point at her favorite princess, Belle, her thinning hair is uncovered, a result of the chemotherapy she is undergoing to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Fatima’s condition was diagnosed in September 2011, and will require 2 1/2 years of chemotherapy at Cottage Children’s Hospital in Santa Barbara, according to Dr. Daniel Greenfield.
While the majority of her medical expenses are covered, there are other expenses involved with her treatment that exceed her family’s budget. Fatima lives with her parents and an older sister in Santa Maria. Her mother doesn’t drive and can no longer work because she has to care for Fatima. She’s also pregnant with a son, to be born in the spring. Fatima’s father works as a gardener at a golf course and must take a great amount of unpaid time off work to drive Fatima to the clinic for blood work, and to her sometimes weekly chemotherapy treatment in Santa Barbara. Also, due to Fatima’s weakened immune system, she can’t accompany her family on grocery trips and other needed errands. Extra financial help is needed to cover gasoline for the trips, help with Fatima’s care, and to cover her father’s lost wages.
The family is being helped by Cecelia “C.C.” Todd, president of Fresh Start, Inc. in Santa Maria. She and her non-profit organization have been assisting low-income families in Santa Maria since 1994 with medical and legal issues, domestic violence, immigration issues, and more.
She also runs a program called “Kids’ Club” which provides homework assistance, arts and crafts, recreation, and field trips. She tries to teach them, “community first, then self.” That is why six youth were at Fatima’s house recently making beaded bracelets to sell door-to-door for $1 to help raise money for the family. They also have held two garage sales with the goal of raising $1,000. Making the bracelets with the kids is something Fatima enjoys doing and it distracts her from her illness.
If you would like to financially support Fatima and her family, send or deliver donations to C.C. Todd, 545 W. Betteravia Road, Santa Maria, Calif., 93455. Make checks out to Fatima Cobarrubios. Donations of beads are also most welcome.
Intern Pamella Wood compiled this week’s Community Corner. Send comments or ideas to the Sun via e-mail at intern@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Jan 26 – Feb 2, 2012.
