That 1 Families Shine Anniversary 2 40th Spotlight Warrior Breakfast 3 Cancer and Camp Agape
For 4 Ride A Child 5 Upcoming Activities Spotlight: 6 Community Sponsor, Partner, Volunteer
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CandlelightersConnections SPRING 2017
Family That Shines: Mosqueda-Terriquez Family
The Mosqueda-Terriquez Family: Karina, Natalie, Everado, Desiree, Claudia, Xavier and Mia.
Five
year old Xavier is full of spunk, fight, and love. He’s a young boy who loves camping, the beach, Lightning McQueen, dogs, and dreams of being a fireman when he grows up. Mom, Claudia describes him as a “loving outspoken little guy.” There is not much that keeps him down, and Xavier makes anyone smile who walks into a room with him. Xavier’s family: mom and dad, Claudia and Everado, and sisters, Mia, Natalie, Karina, and Desiree, have been through all of
the ups and downs that come with a cancer diagnosis and treatment. In October 2015, Xavier was diagnosed with Stage IV Wilms Tumor and lost his left kidney to the disease. Good news came in April 2016, when they found out Xavier was in remission. However, in September 2016, they would once again gear up to fight when they found out his cancer had traveled, and they were up against a Stage IV Wilms Tumor in Xavier’s lung. And that is what this family will continue to do – fight. Xavier’s
Candlelighters For Children With Cancer publishes CandlelightersConnections four times a year to provide news and other information to our childhood cancer community in Oregon and SW Washington.
scans currently show improvement. We will continue to be hopeful for a battle that is won. This has not been an easy journey for the family, especially their many hospitals stays. “Being in the hospital is hard. Dad spends the nights, I do the days, so we switch on and off and it takes a toll economically and mentally seeing your child in pain and wanting to go home and be with his siblings,” says Mom. This family chooses to see the good in all of it, and has said that it has brought them closer together as a family. “It is because of strength and positivity, that we know they can get through this together.” At Candlelighters, we have been lucky enough to have the Mosqueda-Terriquez family be an incredible part of our community. From bowling to Family Camp, we have loved having them be part of our story and connecting them to others who can share in their journey with them. Claudia says “We want to thank Candlelighters for being there to help so many families, and the
donors that make all of these things possible for the kids. Thanks to all of the other families who share their stories. We are thrilled to be a part of this Candlelighters Family.” We are equally as thrilled to know and love them and will be there to support them through it all!
Xavier getting ready to knock ‘em down at Family Bowling Night.
Our Mission:
To provide a community of healing, hope, and light throughout the life-long journey of childhood cancer. We advocate, we educate, we build partnerships, and we foster solidarity for all families experiencing cancer.