Angels of Hope : A Family Cancer Foundation

Who We Help

Meet Our Kids & Families

17 year old Kurtis Mangus, of Addison, Michigan, was diagnosed with stage 4 signit ring musinoid adencarcinoma of the colon this past April. He is only the 78th child to be diagnosed with this rare cancer and is currently undergoing treatment. We helped his family with utility bills as well as groceries.

Sara Budzynski is 11 years old and lives in Clinton Twp. She was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, a serious form of childhood blood cancer in September, 2008. We helped the family with mortgage assistance.

Jeremy Wagner is currently 16 ½ years old. He was diagnosed with Metastatic Osteosarcoma after falling in an indoor soccer game on April 1, 2007. A large tumor was found on Jeremy’s left femur. He endured months of aggressive chemotherapy and had his femur and knee joint removed and replaced with Cobalt Chrome. Since diagnosis, Jeremy has also had 4 double lung surgeries at Mayo Clinic, the most recent lung surgery was this past September 3rd. During each surgery, multiple tiny “grain of sand” size nodules are removed from each of his lungs. Jeremy continues to have ongoing issues with his artificial knee, requiring multiple surgeries to repair and clean the joint.

Jeremy has maintained an amazing attitude since diagnosis. He is an 11th grade honor student at West Bloomfield High School. He and his 19 ½ year old sister - Lindsey, are best friends. They spend as much time together as possible when she is home from Central Michigan University. Lindsey aspires to be an elementary school teacher, and Andie has worked as a school social worker for the past 20 years.

Prior to diagnosis, Jeremy was an avid athlete. He played competitive soccer and basketball for many years. Now, he is unable to play either sport for the rest of his life. He continues to be a huge sports enthusiast and ESPN is his all time favorite cable channel! Jeremy is extremely articulate and can debate sports related issues with the best of them! He aspires to be a writer and hopes to attend an exceptional university (not sure where yet) when he graduates high school in June, 2011. His favorite teams are the Chicago Bears & Bulls!

Besides his intense love of sports, he also enjoys reading, he is learning the card game Bridge, and he absolutely loves to play billiards with his friends. They have started a small band as well!

Selena Barajas, age 6 of Detroit was diagnosed in December 2004 with stage 4 neuroblastoma. She received intensive chemotherapy and a peripheral stem cell transplant in November of 2005. Unfortunately, her tumor re-ocurred in 2008. At that time she received palliative chemo, however her disease progressed and eventually proved to be fatal. Selena lost her battle with cancer in March 2009 just a few short days before her 7th birthday. On March 20, 2009 a grant was awarded to the Barajas
family, which paid for Selena’s funeral expenses.

Harper Gibson, age 2 of Owosso, Michigan was diagnosed with AML Leukemia in 2007. Since then he has undergone treatment and had a recurrence of his disease in September of 2008. Harper is currently a patient at Children’s Hospital of Michigan where he has just received an allogeniec bone marrow transplant. Harper’s mother had to give up her substitute teaching job to care for Harper and his father is a construction worker. Due to the downturn in the economy Harper’s father has had little or no work and is providing assistance with Harper’s care at home. On Friday February 27, 2009 a grant was awarded to Harper’s family. This grant will provide immediate assistance with their mortgage, which has fallen behind. Four months of mortgage payments will be paid in an effort to give the Gibson family some much needed relief and allow them to focus on Harpers care.

Deborah Oliver, age 43 of Detroit is a single mother. She was diagnosed with breast cancer on December 24, 2007. Deborah has been unable to work since her diagnosis, which includes an aggressive treatment schedule. Her inability to work has caused great financial hardship for Deborah and her 2 children. Deborah stated “Fighting this cancer in my body is not as big of a struggle as fighting the daily financial burden that the cancer has caused.” On May 28, 2008 a grant was awarded to Deborah, which provided immediate assistance with her car payments and mortgage.

Brandon Gentry, Age 12 of Oxford was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia, which is a severe form of childhood blood cancer in May 2008. Brandon was treated at Children’s Hospital of Michigan. Unfortunately, Brandon developed pneumonia secondary to his treatment and due to the complications was placed in a medically induced coma and placed on a ventilator. In October 2008 a grant was awarded to Brandon’s family, which provided immediate relief with rent, food, gas and other needs. Brandon lost his battle with cancer in November of 2008. The Gentry family was also provided a Christmas through our Holiday Giving program.

Matthew Robinson, age 5 of Grand Rapids, Michigan is a very sweet 5 year old boy with a history of recurrent Wilms tumor, which was diagnosed in August of 2007. Currently, Matthew recently received a bone marrow transplant and continues an aggressive chemotherapy treatment plan. The Robinson family has been incredibly brave throughout Matthew’s lengthy and complicated treatment, but like many families battling pediatric cancers, they have struggled financially due to being at the hospital so often. On July 16, 2007 a grant was awarded to The Robinson family that provided immediate relief with their mortgage, as well as groceries.

Devon Izenwata, age 4 of Detroit, Michigan was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma on February 2, 2008. This is a fast-growing, highly malignant tumor which accounts for over half of the soft tissue sarcomas in children. Devon is currently being treated in the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Department at William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI. He is receiving intensive chemotherapy and radiation therapy to treat his cancer. Barring any complications Devon’s treatment will last one year. Devon’s treatment schedule has significantly limited his parents ability to work and provide the appropriate care needed. This has greatly impacted their income in a negative way. On July 23, 2008 a grant was awarded to Devon’s family. This grant award has provided immediate financial relief in the areas of rent, auto and utilities.

Steven Stoddard, age 44 of Ortonville, Michigan is a loving husband and father of five children. In April 2008 Steven was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer. In mid May Steven started his chemo treatments. While in treatment Steven will be unable to work. While his wife Kim has worked part time, her primary responsibility has been taking care of the 5 children. Steven will be forced to take an unpaid leave of absence from his job while he battles his cancer. With the loss of Steven’s income the family is struggling to make ends meet. On June 2, 2008 a grant was awarded to the Stoddard family. This grant will provide immediate mortgage assistance for the family. In addition a $500 food card was sent to the family.

Brian Sloan, of Idlewood, Michigan is 16 years old with Metastatic Ewing Sarcoma, which is bone cancer. Brian has undergone a stem cell transplant. He is under Hospice care at the present as his most recent scan indicated the cancer had spread and was not treatable any longer. On March 26, 2008 a grant was awarded to Brian’s family which provided assistance with rent payments, propane for the season, utilities and groceries.

Carlos Miller, age 13 of Detroit, was diagnosed with a Neurocystic Brain Tumor in late 2006 that has now spread to his spine. He is receiving radiation (which he has been showing signs of improvement from) and a series of other treatments but his health has continued to deteriorate. He is wheelchair bound, is losing his speech & motor skills and he is currently being fed from a feeding tube. On April 4, 2008 a grant was awarded to Carlos’ family which will pay a number of past due bills including utilities, rent and clothing for Carlos, as well as his brothers and sisters.

Rachel Barbara, of Wayne, Michigan is a mother of 3 girls with her youngest daughter being autistic. Rachel has a very aggressive breast cancer and is being treated with chemotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy. On April 5, 2008 a grant was awarded to Rachel, which provided assistance with her rent, the purchase of twin beds for her daughters, utilities and groceries.