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A FATHER'S STORY
Children's Cancer Fund
A Jackson Memorial Foundation Affiliate
A Jackson Memorial Foundation Affiliate
Gustavo Loza, a self-taught artist, was born in Colombia in 1960. One of ten
children, he grew up on his family’s farm. After his marriage to Juliana, they
began traveling the world, and Gustavo was inspired to begin painting. In 1999,
their first child, Maria Gabriela was born in Miami, at Jackson Memorial Hospital.
When Maria was 8 months old, she was diagnosed with cancer, and the family
moved to Miami so Maria could begin treatment at JMH. Gustavo recounted,
“We were very lucky; Maria’s treatment involved a 6-hour surgery in her spinal
cord, as well as surgery in her abdomen. God blessed us with the chance to
receive such love and support from the Clinic’s oncology staff. We knew he had
sent us angels on earth through them.”
During a visit to the Clinic for chemotherapy, little Maria was introduced to the
Arts in Medicine program. Sitting in her father’s arms, she watched as he painted
an angel on a wooden puzzle piece, as part of a wall border for a treatment
room. Painted next to Gustavo’s angel was a message, “thanks”.
Maria slowly improved and by 2001 she was cancer-free. With this incredible
news, Gustavo’s passion for painting was revived. As an artist, he began selling
many of his beautiful paintings, but he also found time to dedicate himself as a
volunteer for the Children’s Cancer Fund’s Arts in Medicine program. Here,
Gustavo found many children who were undergoing the same treatments his
own daughter Maria had endured. He understood their struggles and sensed
that the creative expression of painting could help ease some of the worry and
pain. He volunteered hundreds of hours, working on several collaborative
murals, and gave individual painting lessons to children while they received
care.
Gustavo has graciously returned his thanks to the Children’s Cancer Fund. Our
organization is forever grateful to Gustavo Loza for demonstrating the powerful
energy that hope, combined with the creative arts, can offer children and
families struggling with this overwhelming sickness.
children, he grew up on his family’s farm. After his marriage to Juliana, they
began traveling the world, and Gustavo was inspired to begin painting. In 1999,
their first child, Maria Gabriela was born in Miami, at Jackson Memorial Hospital.
When Maria was 8 months old, she was diagnosed with cancer, and the family
moved to Miami so Maria could begin treatment at JMH. Gustavo recounted,
“We were very lucky; Maria’s treatment involved a 6-hour surgery in her spinal
cord, as well as surgery in her abdomen. God blessed us with the chance to
receive such love and support from the Clinic’s oncology staff. We knew he had
sent us angels on earth through them.”
During a visit to the Clinic for chemotherapy, little Maria was introduced to the
Arts in Medicine program. Sitting in her father’s arms, she watched as he painted
an angel on a wooden puzzle piece, as part of a wall border for a treatment
room. Painted next to Gustavo’s angel was a message, “thanks”.
Maria slowly improved and by 2001 she was cancer-free. With this incredible
news, Gustavo’s passion for painting was revived. As an artist, he began selling
many of his beautiful paintings, but he also found time to dedicate himself as a
volunteer for the Children’s Cancer Fund’s Arts in Medicine program. Here,
Gustavo found many children who were undergoing the same treatments his
own daughter Maria had endured. He understood their struggles and sensed
that the creative expression of painting could help ease some of the worry and
pain. He volunteered hundreds of hours, working on several collaborative
murals, and gave individual painting lessons to children while they received
care.
Gustavo has graciously returned his thanks to the Children’s Cancer Fund. Our
organization is forever grateful to Gustavo Loza for demonstrating the powerful
energy that hope, combined with the creative arts, can offer children and
families struggling with this overwhelming sickness.
Board of Directors
Miriam Machado
Executive Director
Cathy Thomas Block, M Ed
Secretary
Letitia T. Cason, M Ed
Treasurer
Daniel Armstrong, PhD
Joanne Prlich
Fred Annunziata
Maria Luisa Boord
Monica G. Mora
Ellen White, ARNP
Joanna Davis, MD
Susie Valls, Esq.
Miriam Machado
Executive Director
Cathy Thomas Block, M Ed
Secretary
Letitia T. Cason, M Ed
Treasurer
Daniel Armstrong, PhD
Joanne Prlich
Fred Annunziata
Maria Luisa Boord
Monica G. Mora
Ellen White, ARNP
Joanna Davis, MD
Susie Valls, Esq.
Contact Us
By Mail
Children's Cancer Fund
P.O. Box 016960 (R131)
Miami, FL 33101
By Phone
305-585-5635
Monday - Friday
By Email
By Mail
Children's Cancer Fund
P.O. Box 016960 (R131)
Miami, FL 33101
By Phone
305-585-5635
Monday - Friday
By Email
| The Children’s Cancer Fund is an affiliate of the Jackson Memorial Foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt charitable institution, Certificate No. 23-08-390179-56C Federal Tax I.D. Number 65-0077727. Your donation is deductible to the extent allowed by law. |
WISH LIST
Due to infection control all items must be new. Thank you!
 | Board games | |
| Baby dolls | |
| Barbie dolls | |
| Spill-proof bubbles | |
| Electronic games | |
| Infant toys | |
| Match box cars | |
| Coloring books | |
| Crayons or markers | |
| Craft kits | |
| Action figures | |
| CD players | |
| Gift Cards for teens | |
| Fisher Price or Little Tykes toys | |
| Puppets | |
| Nerf toys | |
| Activity books | |
| Sports t-shirts | |
| Bath sets | |
| Any themed toys, such as Sponge | |
| Bob, Hannah Montana, Dora the Explorer, etc. |
Did you know that each year, over 10,000 children develop cancer and many
more are born with other life-threatening chronic blood disorders? Cancer is
the leading non-accidental cause of death in American children. The good
news: most of these children survive when they receive state-of-the-art
treatment in facilities like those at the University of Miami/Jackson Health
System’s Holtz Children's Hospital, a major teaching and research institution.
For example, the survival rate for children stricken with the most common
form of childhood leukemia approaches 80 percent. With appropriate use of
blood products, antibiotics, bone marrow transplantation and other
treatments, the majority of children with cancer and chronic blood disorders
grow into adulthood.
The future may be bright, but there is a battle to be waged! The Children's
Cancer Fund offers children and their families the support needed as they
endure necessary life-saving treatments. We are dedicated to bringing hope
and smiles to children stricken with cancer, while providing support and
education in pediatric cancer and blood disorders.
Thank you for your interest in the Children's Cancer Fund!
KNOW THE FACTS
Little Maria Gabriela Loza during her
treatment.
treatment.
A cancer-free Maria Gabriela, in February
2007.
2007.
To make a credit
card donation,
please visit
www.jmf.org.
card donation,
please visit
www.jmf.org.