Fundraiser Planned in Pasadena For LACFD Firefighter's Ill Daughter

By Mirna Alfonso

A fundraiser is planned for the ill 3-year-old daughter of a Los Angeles County Firefighter, at Robin’s Wood Fire BBQ, 395 N. Rosemead Blvd., Pasadena, Thursday, Dec. 4; it will take place between 11:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., organizers told Patch.

Cecilia is the 3-year-old daughter of Los Angeles County Firefighter James von Harz.

She was diagnosed with stage 1 Wilms Tumor on April 5, 2013 at the age of 2, she went through surgery to remove her right kidney along with a two pound tumor. She then endured 20 weeks of chemotherapy, according to organizers.

Through it all she maintained her beautiful smile and strong spirit but on Feb 28th 2014, after six months of remission the cancer came back in her lungs with a vengeance.

She has gone through radiation to both lungs but is still on her medication. On November 17, she underwent surgery to have a new G-tube inserted, allowing her a better diet, but her fight continues. Her alternative medication, not covered under insurance is $1500/month, organizers said.

This medication allows Cecilia a normal childhood with playtime and play dates and the much-needed rest she gets through the chemo treatment. Cecilia’s medicine aids in tumor and cancer cell death but also gives Cecilia a quality of life that is priceless.

Without these medications and supplements she would be constantly nauseas and sick, not able to sleep due to the constant discomfort and losing weight and vitality, but because she has them she runs and plays, takes a 2-3 hour nap and sleeps throughout the night.

She eats enough to maintain her weight and although at times she succumbs to the effects of chemotherapy and radiation and gets sick, she bounces right back wanting to join the other kids in the neighborhood.

These medications and supplements have also allowed the family to avoid blood transfusions when the medical field told them that it could not be done.

For the past three weeks, Cecilia’s hemoglobin levels have been in the 10 range. which are in the normal range and doctors and nurses tell them she has the highest red blood counts of any chemo patient they have seen without the use of blood.

However, it comes at a high cost. With funds raised at the last event at Robin’s, the Foundation paid for four months of alternative medication at $6,000. Now FFF and Robin’s BBQ are reaching out to the public for help, to again offer the family a bit of hope.