East Santana's life was forever changed at the age of 22 months on December16th 2006 when he fell into a pool under the supervision of a babysitter.  After 45 minutes without oxygen and 30 minutes cardiac arrest.

He managed to survive and come off of life support but with a severe brain injury. It is a daily struggle of getting the therapy and equipment needed to help him strive and have a better quality of life...

For Daily Blogs of Santana's Progress from his Mother, please refer to there website at http://www.prayforsantana.org/

Up until March 6, 2007 our son was a boy who loved to be outside digging in the dirt, chasing lizards, riding bikes, or playing baseball. His smile would light up any room, and he loved to go hunting and fishing with dad more than anything else. This all changed in an instant when a very large RV gate fell on him. Luke was rushed by helicopter to the hospital, where we were told he had little chance to survive and we needed to decide if we wanted to donate his organs. Luke suffered a severe traumatic brain injury.

By the grace of God, and some very determined doctors, Luke survived. He spent a total of nine weeks in the hospital and remained in a coma for four months. We were told that Luke may remain a vegetable for life. God has other plans for our Gladiator, as one of his nurses nicknamed him. He has fought his way back slowly but surely. Over the last year and a half he has regained the ability to eat food by mouth, make some vocal sounds, follow commands, give the best hugs in the world, squeeze your hand to say " I Love You," take steps with assistance, and numerous other things we were told he would never do. He has definitely been blessed with a fighting spirit and loves it when he accomplishes something new.

For Daily Blogs of Luke's Progress from his Mother, please refer to there website at http://www.ourgladiator.com/

On January 18^th, 2006 Brooke Lynn Alden (11) was leading her recess football team on a game-winning drive.  You see, Brooke was not only a “straight A” student and an all-around sweet girl, she was also a 3-sport standout athlete.  She consistently dominated boys her age in football, soccer, and baseball.  On this day she caught a pass across the middle and had a collision with another student.  She went down hard, writhing in pain.  After being carried to the school nurse’s office she was sent to the ER.  At the ER her X-rays revealed that her Femur (the big bone in her leg) had snapped in half.  As concerned as her parents (Scott and Danielle) were, the doctors were more concerned with why the bone had broken so easily.

 

After more tests, Scott and Danielle listened in horror as the doctors informed them that the reason Brooke’s leg had broken so easily is because the bone had been taken over by a cancerous tumor.  This extremely rare type of Cancer called Osteosarcoma can be found in only a couple hundred people a year.

Take a look at Brooke's Web Page

Derec Bogue is a shy 5 year old little boy who was born with the mutated Cx32 Gene which causes him to have a very rare form of Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease type X (CMTX). While many people are diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease and Charcot-Marie-Tooth Form X, Derec is one of six people in the world that we know of with this form of CMTX that effects both nervous systems and the only one that is a child. It has taken Derec’s family five years to find a true diagnosis and we are now in search of more knowledge, research and a cure

 

At a young age, Derec experienced a lot of stroke-like symptoms which we now know were caused by childhood vaccinations that stimulated his undiagnosed disease. Since then, the disease has affected his nervous system. Derec is unable to walk, his speech is impaired, and he lacks sensation in his feet, legs, hands and arms.

Derec's form Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease type X causes him to be the only child to have brain abnormalities where the protective white matter around his brain has not developed completely and it is unknown when or if this will develope over time. The abnormal White Matter is in the area of Derec's Brain that effects his balance, tremors and abnormal eye movement. Derec is hard working and committed to his speech, physical, and occupational therapies.

CMTX not only affects your peripheral nerves which cause the mylin around nerves to degenerate but also goes into the central nervous system causing stroke-like episodes to occur. Unable to control these episodes, they become setbacks for Derec that detract from the accomplishments that he has to work so hard to achieve.

Despite all the challenges Derec and his family have faced in his five years of life, he is always has a smile. Derec’s disease has not slowed his ambition, he began mainstream kindergarten this year and has become one of the most popular kids at his school. Derec has a normal IQ of a child his age and understands that he is unique..

Take a look at Derec's Web Page

Abby's story begins in late January 2007. Abby noticed a bump on the roof of her mouth. The Family doctor check it out the following week. After the initial diagnostics, the ear, nose and throat doctor removed it within a few days after that.

Her parents didn't get a diagnosis right away. Samaritan hospital could not identify what the mass was, the Mayo clinic in Scottsdale didn't have an answer either--it wasn't until that Thursday that the family would get the terrible news: Abby was diagnosed with a form of Rhabdomyosarcoma.

 

Rhabdomyosarcoma is a type of cancer, specifically a sarcoma (cancer of connective tissues), in which the cancer cells are thought to arise from skeletal muscle progenitors. It can also be found attached to muscle tissue, wrapped around intestines, or anywhere, to include the neck area. It is most common in children ages one to five, and teens aged 15 to 19, although quite rare in the latter. It can be a cardiac manifestation of tuberous sclerosis.

The two most common forms of rhabdomyosarcoma (which is a relatively rare form of cancer) are embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, and alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. In the former, the cancer cells resemble those of a typical 6-to-8-week embryo. In the latter, they resemble those of a typical 10-to-12-week embryo. The former is more common in younger children, and the latter in older children and teenagers.

Take a look at Abby's Website to follow her progress

 

Little League Baseball is a non-profit organization in the United States which organizes local children's leagues of baseball and softball throughout the USA and the rest of the world. Donated funds goes toward helping our young athletes by covering scholarship registration fees, providing uniforms, paying for umpire fees, supplying new equipment that replaces old worn out equipment, and to help pay for field expenses which includes light, chalk maintenance and etc. For a more information about Little League, please read on.

Better than any other youth sport activity, baseball and softball have become the thread that has sewn together a patchwork of nations and cultures around the world. Children in diverse nations such as Israel, Jordan, Russia, Germany, Japan, Canada, Australia, Poland, Mexico, China, Venezuela, South Africa and the U.S. have discovered baseball and softball -- Little League Baseball and Softball - are ways to bring their people a sport that mirrors life itself.

Baseball and softball embody the discipline of teamwork. They challenge players toward perfection of physical skills and bring into play the excitement of tactics and strategy. The very nature of baseball and softball also teach that while every player eventually strikes out or is on the losing team, there is always another chance for success in the next at-bat or game.

Millions of children on six continents and scores of countries can attest that baseball, softball and Little League are synonymous. Little League is a heritage to be carried forward proudly in the future by ever increasing waves of those devoted to teaching children how to play and enjoy these great games.

Basically, Little League has three structural components, each dependent upon the other and each vital to the success of the program.

The administrative and service core of the movement is Little League Baseball, Incorporated, a non-profit membership organization that maintains the international program, with Little League International in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Part of the Little League International structure includes various Regional Centers in the U.S. and throughout the world.

The next component is the District. All the leagues within a District (a geographical area usually encompassing 10-20 leagues) elect a District Administrator (DA). The DA and his/her staff of Assistant District Administrators serve as liaisons between the various Regional Headquarters and the local Little Leagues. They are usually the most experienced Little League volunteers in the area and are charged with helping to ensure that all the volunteers in their districts are well trained, and all the leagues are operating within the guidelines set by Little League. The District Administrator does not have the authority to suspend, limit or revoke any rules, regulations or privileges of charter by a local Little League, but may recommend such action to the Charter Committee in Williamsport.

The final, most important component is the local Little League. The league provides its services in the community. It furnishes physical facilities, volunteer services and resources to provide a program for children. Through effective leadership and strong administrative policy at the top level, together with training extensions and adherence to rule and policy at District and local league level, Little League is able to provide liberal benefits to children who participate.

Visit the Official Little League Website

Each fall, as the holiday season approaches, underserved families in the East Valley are referred to East Valley Sol for assistance. These "working poor" families earn salaries far below the amount that allows them the luxury of providing for special holidays. Families are referred by participating agencies, schools and faith communities. Sponsors, who include employees of area businesses and County agencies, members of civic organizations and faith communities, and private citizens are provided information on family members' needs and wishes. 

East Valley Sol is committed to helping these families. With your donations we strive to adopt several families each year. Children and adults of these families are provided with clothing, toys, gifts and many of the necessities of life that most of us take for granted. Our goal is to help them better their situation and put a smile on the children’s faces. Every child deserves clothing and toys to call their own, and with your help they can enjoy those necessities.

East Valley Sol is a Non-Profit Organization dedicated to impacting the lives of young people through philanthropic efforts, volunteerism and leadership
to improve the overall quality of life for the families of our community.

This is accomplished by  providing leadership and resources that create worthwhile opportunities, especially for our youth. The commitment of the Sol is to focus their efforts toward projects that make a significant contribution to the community.

Whether it's providing equipment and uniforms to a sports team,  supplying school materials for a kid in need, or sending a child to camp, East Valley Sol is committed to making these dreams reality. 

If you have a charity or cause that you would like East Valley Sol to participate in, please follow the link below to submit your charity for consideration.