21 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS RAISE OVER $351,506 TO HELP THE LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY ORANGE COUNTY INLAND EMPIRE CHAPTER FIGHT CANCER

Costa Mesa, California, March 31, 2019 - 21 local high school philanthropists collectively raised $351,506 in the 3rd Annual 2019 Students of the Year OCIE Campaign.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) Orange County Inland Empire Chapter hosted their 3rd Annual OCIE Students of the Year Campaign Grand Finale Celebration at Fete the Venue. The evening included a silent auction, cocktail hour, dinner and an inspiring program celebrating local high school philanthropists. 

Blake Kelly, Justin Emi, and Christian Kelly of team Cancer is Wack, were recognized as the 2019 OCIE Students of the Year. The runner up was Luke Hatfield of Team Hero. The Citizenship Awards were presented to Luke Hatfield of Team Hero for Mission, Lily Johnson of team Beat 41 for Volunteerism, Liliana Adzich and Jade Faircloth or team Inspire a Thousand for Community Involvement, and Jennifer Oz of team Wishful Workers for Innovation. Individual results will be posted once all national Student of the Year Campaigns are complete.

The evening’s festivities were hosted by California Coast Auctions’, Zackary Krone.

Mission speakers at the event included:

• 2019 Students of the Year Honored Hero Alexis Buss, an 18 year old acute lymphoblastic leukemia survivor, shared her story and congratulated the 2019 candidates on their efforts to continue raising funds that would benefit both research and patient services for cancer patients.

• Sammy Noija, a 22 year old acute lymphoblastic leukemia survivor, also shared his cancer journey at 9 years old, and how he is alive because of the work that the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society does.

ABOUT STUDENTS OF THE YEAR

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Students of the Year is an exciting leadership development and philanthropy program in which high school students participate in a fundraising competition to benefit LLS. Every dollar raised counts as one vote. The candidates/teams who raise the most money at the end of the 7-week competition earn the title Student(s) of the Year. For motivated high school students, this program ensures they stand out among their peers when engaging with colleges and/or future employers. Through guidance and mentoring from experienced professionals at LLS they will make a real impact in the fight against blood cancers.

ABOUT THE LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding research, finding cures and ensuring access to treatments for blood cancer patients. Since 1949, LLS has been on the forefront of blood cancer advances such as chemotherapies and stem cell transplantation leading the way to the targeted therapies and immunotherapies that are saving thousands of lives today. LLS is changing the landscape of cancer with more than 300 active research projects that explore different avenues of new and adventurous research; ones with promise and ones that will save lives not someday, but today.

Find out if your teen has what it takes to participate in this elite leadership program or donate to support the 2019 candidates at https://studentsoftheyear.org/students-year-orange-county

Isaiah Melendez: 2019 Boy of the Year. Journey told by his mother, Brenda Perez:

February 18, 2017, I received the worst news ever. It all started with what I thought a simple hospital visit because Isaiah came down with a fever. The doctor delivered the news gently - Isaiah's red blood cells are low, the white blood cells are low and platelets are low. I quickly learned that having one of out of the three would be an okay situation but, all three being low was not good, not good at all. I looked up at the doctor's face and he muttered, it's CANCER! Never in a million years would I have thought that my son, my baby, my 3 year old has cancer. My body went numb. My biggest fears clouded my mind. I heard my daughter crying in the next room. I then hear Isaiah's father crying "why". I was still trying to grasp the information, but it was like I was brain dead. The news finally sunk in and with tears in my eyes, I asked the Doctor, WHY? What were the symptoms? Is this heredity? What did I do wrong? My answer from anyone and everyone was, I'm so sorry, it just happens! As I started blaming myself, I looked at my pale baby and told him, "Mommy is here" - everything will be ok.

A year later, Isaiah is in remission, still going through chemotherapy treatment and taking several other medications. Even though we still have no answers or a cure, I just thank God my baby is still here by our side.

Our lives changed in a matter of seconds but...we have survived and prevailed. I had to resign from my full time job to take care of Isaiah. I am a single mother raising my two other children as well. As soon as Isaiah was diagnosed with leukemia (ALL) he was admitted to start chemotherapy right away. We spent weeks in the hospital last year due to Isaiah's different reactions to the chemotherapy, fevers he would come down with, spinal taps and other unexpected medical emergencies.

Despite any obstacles he is still one loving and energetic boy who loves powerwheels and dinosaurs! Isaiah loves to play outside with his friends and he is currently learning how to ride a bicycle!

Elizabeth Forte: 2019 Girl of the Year. Journey told by her parents, Brooke & Frank Forte:

Elizabeth is 11 years old, in 6th grade at Fletcher Middle School. She has a twin brother and younger sister. She loves helping others, playing with her cat, drawing and dancing. We began our journey in mid-November 2009 when Elizabeth presented with a limp. We originally thought she had toxic synovitis, as her twin brother Luca, had just experienced a few days of limping due to this following a virus. We visited the pediatrician and she concurred and we all agreed to monitor. When Elizabeth continued to limp a month later, we returned to the pediatrician and a CBC was ordered along with an x-ray of her lower leg. The CBC showed perfectly normal numbers and her x-ray was negative. Later an x-ray of her hips was ordered... negative. With nothing significant, we again agreed to monitor. The limping continued over the next couple of months but it was not daily, and didn't seem to keep her from any activities, so we just continued to watch.

In mid-February 2010, Elizabeth broke her arm and we went to a pediatric orthopedic. She had suffered from a green stick break in her wrist, something typical in toddlers. She wore a cast for four weeks and it healed perfectly. When we were at the appointment for her cast removal, we casually asked her doctor about her limping. He agreed with her pediatrician, that with nothing significant in her labs or on x-ray, we should just monitor. If something changes, return for a follow up. We were back to see him within a week when Elizabeth began complaining of severe pain, and quit walking almost completely. Full body x-rays were ordered...all negative. A bone scan was ordered...negative. The orthopedic began to think that it was juvenile arthritis and he treated with an NSAID for a few weeks. Because he knew we were diligent about testing and really wanted something to prove that it was arthritis, he ordered an MRI. The MRI was originally scheduled for June 7. We actually discussed cancelling the MRI, as our doctor was certain it was arthritis, and we were concerned about all the anesthesia Elizabeth had undergone over the past months. We decided that we couldn't let it go and asked to be put on a list for an earlier MRI. Thankfully, the MRI was moved up to May 4. Later in the week following the MRI, I visited the pediatrician with Elizabeth's younger sister. The pediatrician inquired about the results, and since the test had just been done a couple of days prior, I had not heard anything, she called to get information. When the pediatrician returned to the room, she explained that the MRI showed abnormalities and we needed to order more tests. Following this, we had another CBC and a visit to the hematologist where possibilities were explained and a bone marrow biopsy was ordered.

On May 13, 2010 we had the biopsy and received a phone call in the early evening stating that Elizabeth had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). These results were a shock to all involved, as previous tests had all been negative, and aside from her limping, Elizabeth has been very healthy- not typical of a child with leukemia. Her bone marrow was at 87% replacement with bad cells. If we had waited for the June 7 MRI her disease would have progressed significantly, so we are so thankful we were able to move it up.

Elizabeth endured 2 ½ years of treatment, which included oral and IV chemotherapy, oral steroids, intrathecal chemotherapy, many blood transfusions, physical therapy, hospital stays, and scares. We are so proud and blessed to say that she is a survivor, off treatment for 6 years, and now maintains a once a year check up with her oncologist. Her treatment did result in some brain damage that has affected her learning and processing, however, she presents like a normal little 11 year old girl. She has to work harder at everything she does, though she never complains. She has a love of dance that began at the age of 2 and has continued. Dance is also an area that she works really hard, however, she never complains that things do not come easy- it is her passion. Elizabeth has the kindest spirit and gentle soul; she loves and shows care for all, and has a special connection to those that endure any challenge- medical, social, emotional. She is definitely meant for something special in this world, and I certainly love watching it all develop and unfold.

We are very proud to share an article that The Virginia Gazette published regarding the Students of the Year Campaign and one of our 2019 SOY candidates, Ty Hundley!

To read about her personal experience with the campaign, click the link to the article below!

https://www.vagazette.com/news/va-vg-kessim-hundley-0322-story.html?fbclid=IwAR2rA_PlqI0iS0-yXnmJ9KoZaaHXyXZ9yGBpfX6WwrJf02Gl0u7H5c33VNQ

Congratulations to Chloe Robbins on receiving our Students of the Year Citizenship Award. This award is given to the student who best represents LLS and our mission of ending blood cancers through volunteerism, outreach, advocacy and community involvement. Chloe was also our runner up for Students of the Year! Cheers Chloe, we are so proud of you!