Children's Hospital of Orange County - CHOC

Nasal Dysplasia Research - July 1998
One of Cherese's very dearest best friends, Sophia Pen, gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Olivia, just 13 days after Cherese left on her Semester at Sea trip. And unfortunately, Cherese never even saw a picture of her. Olivia was born with Nasal Dysplasia, a malformation of the nose and surrounding tissues. Olivia is being treated at Children's Hospital of Orange County, also known as CHOC, where she has undergone several surgeries.
Cherese's gift was given to CHOC for research in hopes of finding out what causes the malformations and cleft-craniofacial defects of the palate, face and skull. Cherese would do anything to help Olivia and children like her. Perhaps with research, we will someday have answers and cures. I know Cherese is watching over Olivia.

Cord Blood Program - February 1999
Every year, more then 30,000 adults and children are diagnosed with a life-threatening blood disease such as leukemia or sickle-cell anemia. Traditionally, bone marrow transplantation has been the therapy of choice for treatment. Two-thirds of children in the United States who require a bone marrow transplant cannot find a suitable donor, the risk for rejection is high and collections is lengthy and the procedure is costly. In 1998, doctors began exploring the use of umbilical-cord blood for bone marrow transplants to treat children and some adults with a variety of illnesses. It is currently being tested for use in gene therapy for HIV.
Cord blood has several advantages over bone marrow transplants:
1. Readily available - collected from placenta after birth with no risk to mother or child, cord can be frozen and stored for up to 15 years.
2. Less rejection of cells.
3. Less expensive- It costs approximately $3,000 to collect, test and store cord blood tissue. Bone marrow can cost upwards of $20,000 to obtain and take months to collect. Cherese's gift is for "BLOOD DONOR EDUCATIONAL BROCHURES" to be distributed over the next three years, in doctors offices, hospitals and given to expectant mothers. It will inform and educate potential cord blood donors about the process and benefits of participation. And Cherese's picture and foundation name will appear on the back of this three-fold brochure.