The HS I used to work at hosted a carnival and bake sale with kids washing cars for donations today. A huge turn out and media coverage.
I chatted with Paul about school stuff and things unrelated....he shows a brave face, that man.
Madison was there, too.
It was an awesome experience....such an outpouring of love and support.
Donations to a support fund for Madison can be made at Bank of the Sierra branches in Visalia. Checks can be made payable to Madison Raheb under the account number 0712539930.
In today's paper:
Tragedy spurs response
Visalia students help teacher whose daughter is battling a brain tumor.
By Tim Bragg / The Fresno Bee
(Updated Friday, April 22, 2005, 10:32 AM)
VISALIA — Golden West High School choral students hope they can help a teacher whose daughter is battling a brain tumor by holding two fundraising events Saturday.
Students of Paul Raheb, who has taught the choir classes at Golden West for the past seven years, will hold a car wash, bake sale and yard sale Saturday at the high school campus. Later in the evening, they've planned a screening of the movie "The Incredibles" in the school's gym.
"A lot of us were in tears when we heard about it, it's such a tragedy," said Samantha Allender, an 18-year-old senior and choir member.
Paul and Melanie Raheb became concerned about their daughter, 2-year-old Madison, when she began having trouble with motor skills such as walking. They also noticed she had a lazy eye and an unusual bend in her neck.
The Rahebs took Madison to University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center earlier this month, where doctors conducted a scan of her brain and discovered a tumor between the size of a golf ball and tennis ball on her brain stem.
Doctors called the family back to the hospital immediately to prepare Madison for surgery.
"It was hard because we never thought of her as being sick," said Paul Raheb.
Doctors were able to remove 80% of the tumor during the surgery, but the other 20% is entwined in Madison's brain stem, Raheb said. A biopsy showed the tumor was an aggressive form of cancer that has a poor recovery rate.
Raheb said the family is hopeful, but he acknowledges the prognosis for complete recovery is probably 50-50. The family will meet with doctors Tuesday to find out the details of Madison's treatment, which most likely will be chemotherapy. "We weren't expecting something of this magnitude," Raheb said.
For now, Madison is doing what most 2-year-olds do, playing with her little brother, 5-month-old Elijah, and her toys.
"She felt the scar on the back of her neck for the first time the other day," said Melanie Raheb.
Insurance will pay for most of Madison's health care costs, but organizers of Saturday's event hope their efforts will pay for things not covered, such as travel, said Becky Ainley, a choir parent booster.
Melanie Raheb plays with her 2-year-old daughter, Madison, on Thursday in their Visalia home. Doctors at University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center earlier this month conducted a scan of Madison's brain and discovered a tumor on her brain stem.
Christian Parley / The Fresno Bee
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