Photo by Dave Warner – Ray Lenarcic sits with winners of his Englebert the Elf’s Half and Half contest. From left to right: Millie Cool, Emma Casullo, Grace LaValla, Lincoln Beers, Reagan Beers, Ava Carter, Finley Latendress, and Mikey Verri. Absent: Violet Postal and Emery Smith.
By Ray Lenarcic
St. Jude Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, was founded by entertainer Danny Thomas in 1962 and is a non-profit medical corporation that focuses on children’s catastrophic diseases, particularly leukemia and other cancers. Since its inception, the survival rate of childhood cancer has gone from 20% to 80%. The following is a timely example of one of St. Jude’s success stories (from Alban Zamora-First Christmas Memories Made at St. Jude).
Maria Fernanda starts getting ready for Christmas well in advance. Several weeks before, she writes her wish list for Santa Claus. This year, she asked for 25 presents. “She likes to give Santa options!” said Sochi, her mother, as she hugged her affectionately. The list includes a pair of boots and several skin care products. “At 11 years old, she is still a little girl to us, but we have already seen how she is becoming a pre-teen,” Sochi said.
It was in 2014. Maria Fernanda was 14 months old and came from Cuba with a diagnosis of eye cancer. The doctor who treated her in Havanna referred her to St. Jude. “In our country, we do not have a tradition to celebrate Christmas, so we had only seen it in the movies.” Recalled Ricardo, Maria’s father. “Arriving at St. Jude was a mix of emotions: we were scared and uncertain, but seeing the holiday decorations and the warm welcome from all the hospital staff made us feel hope and love.”
Since that first hospitalization, the family has adopted several Christmas traditions. They watch holiday-themed movies, prepare dinner for the extended family, and on Christmas Eve, Maria places chocolate cookies and milk under the tree for Santa Claus.
Maria Fernandez returns to St. Jude for regular checkups. She is in the fifth grade and is a member of her school’s honor society, where she is also part of the drama club. St. Jude has become a symbol of hope for the family during the holiday season, Ricardo said. “St. Jude gave us a chance to watch our only child grow and thrive, and for that, we will be forever grateful,” said Sochi.
This year, in memory of Jennifer Kraeger, Vietnam veteran Royal Kraeger’s daughter who died from childhood cancer caused by his exposure to Agent Orange, Kay and I are matching the total prize money paid out to winners and entrants in the Englebert the Elf’s Half and Half Contest held at Benton Hall Academy in Little Falls and donating it to St. Jude.
Little Falls High School alum RJ Lenarcic stated, “Kay and I want the 4th graders to know that because of their efforts, we were inspired to do something to help Maria and the others affected by this horrific disease. We ask the public to join us, knowing that by giving, children like Maria will receive the best treatment possible.”
Anyone interested in making a tax-deductible donation can send it to St. Jude Research Hospital-501 St. Jude Place-Memphis, TN-38105.
Photo by Dave Warner – Ray Lenarcic shows some of his Englebert the Elf’s Half and Half Contest drawings at Benton Hall Academy in Little Falls.