September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, a time to reflect on all the young lives that have been taken by all different kinds of cancer, including Pontine Glioma. In the same way that breast cancer is associated with pink and AIDS is associated with red, the color that signifies Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is gold. […]
Bronx restaurant Latin Kitchen was the site of the Cristian Rivera Foundation’s most recent mini-fundraiser event on July 29. The restaurant, located at 3841 East Tremont Avenue, becomes a lounge every Thursday night and on this particular Thursday, everyone who came after 10pm paid a $10 donation and received one […]
July 17 was a star-studded day at The Country Fair Entertainment Park in Medford, NY. That was the site of Mega Jam 2010, the all-day event offering carnival rides, food, family fun and music. Party 105.3 FM put on the event, which was hosted by Miranda Cosgrove, star of Nickelodeon’s iCarly, […]
Today is Valeria’s birthday. I’m keeping her parents in my thoughts and prayers as they go through the difficult task of marking a child’s birthday after they’re gone. Sadly, they are not alone.
The Cristian Rivera Foundation continues to touch people’s hearts with its mission to cure inoperable pediatric brain stem tumor Pontine Glioma. Jeannie Perez, of Newark, NJ’s Family Affair Childcare, created a banner inviting families at her daycare center and in the community to support the Cristian Rivera Foundation. She even offered a period of […]
This past Sunday was Father’s Day. Even though I still have my son JC to celebrate with, it’s hard knowing Cristian can’t enjoy the day with us. He was definitely there, though. Two things happened to remind me of that.
Pontine Glioma, put me in touch with yet another father of a child diagnosed with the disease. Larry’s daughter Danielle is only six years old and she’s had Pontine Glioma since November of 2009. He seemed like a fighter and even reminded me a little of myself. We talked about the different types of treatment and it was so sad speaking with him. It brought back memories of Cristian, who was Danielle’s age when he died, and it reminded me that we are still so far from a cure.