EL PASO, TEXAS—-The Candlelighters of El Paso is a non-profit organization that helps families of children suffering from cancer.
The organization is the only one in the region providing help to children ages 0 to 21 with cancer.
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. One out of 285 children in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer before they turn 20.
One of the families that currently get help from the organization is a single mother. Her 13-year-old son was diagnosed with the cancer of the blood. The cancer was discovered last November.
The 13-year-old boy’s mother named Maria Luna said she would never think her son had cancer. One day the boy woke up crying because of the pain in his legs, and she thought he is getting the flu.
After some blood tests, the doctor confirmed a boy called Jesus had leukemia.
A 13-year-old boy also has Down syndrome. Luna said Jesus now handles his treatment at home.
. With the tears in her eyes, Luna said. A single mother had to stop working to take care of Jesus. Candle lighters of El Paso help her to pay bills and provide food for her and her family.
The director of the organization, Mary Vasquez, knows what it feels to go through this. She lost her son to cancer more than two decades ago.
She encourages the community to support the organization by donating clothing and furniture.
