Hi friends!

I want to tell you an incredible story about our other son and granddaughter, Tim and Eva Hooten. In 1985 we met young Tim in our kids’ Sunday school class.  He was an outgoing and loving boy who enjoyed helping where ever there was a need.  Tim immediately bonded with us and our 3 children and would even help our older son watch his 2 younger sisters when we needed a night out.  All the kids soon became inseparable.  Now that 35 years have passed, we can only see him and his family as a part of us.

[Tim and Jason with our first two granddaughters Eva and Maya]

In 2007, Tim was diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) - an incurable blood cancer. Months later, Eva (then 4 years old) was diagnosed with a different kind of leukemia called Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). Eva's mom Katie was 7 months pregnant with her baby sister as Tim and Eva sought treatment in two different hospitals - Tim at City of Hope and Eva at Children's Hospital LA. Can you imagine having two family members fighting blood cancer at the same time?! Tim’s life-saving medicine was developed through research funded by The Leukemia Lymphoma Society, and he’s now on a 3^rd generation chemo which keeps the cancer controlled. Eva underwent 2 1/2 years of rigorous treatment and was pronounced cancer free in December of 2009.

Now 15 years old, Eva has her sights set on helping to create a world without cancer. She is participating in a fundraising effort called Student of the Year that runs from January 12 - March 1. She has set an ambitious goal of raising $100,000 in those fast 7 weeks. She has titled her campaign “When Pigs Fly: Making The Impossible Possible” because she knows a world without cancer is within our grasp (and baby pigs with wings are unquestionably cute). Funds raised will go to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society whose groundbreaking research is benefiting all cancers. The creativity happening in LLS-funded trials is impacting the future, and we are so proud to join the effort to cure cancer.

[Maya and Eva]

Eva is motivated by the love she has for her dad Tim who still depends on a daily oral chemotherapy and her friend Jordan who went through years of treatment for ALL and recently relapsed. The cures are getting better, but there's more work to be done. It inspires me that Eva's passion and commitment as a survivor has lead us all to make a difference for others.

Will you join us in supporting the effort to eradicate blood cancer, find innovative treatments for all cancers, and support Eva by giving a donation to help her reach this ambitious goal? Every gift large and small will truly make a difference. 

Donations can be made here by clicking the red DONATE button at the top. 

Many Thanks!

Sandy