Coupons for Caring

Before being president of the Circle of Care (CoC), ten years ago Liz Salguero’s position as a stay-at-home mom was upended when her son, Carlos, was diagnosed with cancer.

The next three years of treatment—including 24 intrathecal sessions—were excruciating. When Carlos pulled through it—he has been in remission for nine years—Salguero wanted to help out other families going through the same arduous process. During those years of treatment, Salguero met two other local moms, Dawn Ladenheim and Cara LaMonte, both whom had children undergoing treatment. In 2003, the trio started the Circle of Care, a nonprofit organization that exists to support, both financially and emotionally, families that are battling with pediatric cancer.

In May of this year, Salguero was honored by Hood’s “Make a Difference, Taste a Difference” campaign, which offers to donate 25 cents, up to $7,500, for downloading and redeeming a coupon for Simply Smart Milk. The coupons will be available through July 31, 2011, and money donated will go to the CoC and “other honored organizations,” according to an email sent by Hood.

“We grew very quickly simply by responding to the needs of parents with children with cancer,” said Salguero. “[Pediatric cancer] is a very rare disease, with only 150 diagnoses in Connecticut each year. We wanted to do what we can to give back."

“‘Every cent that we receive will go towards helping families with the multiple needs they face while caring for a child that is undergoing cancer treatment. We’ll help them pay for parking at the hospital, DVDs and books for the children, digital thermometers to use at home and this donation will even allow us to assist families with mortgage payments,’” wrote Salguero in that same email.

Since 2006, the CoC has given $234,859 to 565 families, and Salguero hopes that Hood’s award will bring in more money to the CoC’s cause.

“[We] are really honored to be given this distinction, very excited for the extra exposure and fundraising opportunities,” said Salguero.

Salguero is one of only three recipients (and three charities) given the award.

The programs are designed to provide families with everyday essentials to ease the burden of hospitalization, facilitate research and communication with family and friends, brighten a sick child’s room and financially support the family from the time of diagnosis to recovery and beyond. Currently, only two hospitals in Connecticut offer treatment for pediatric cancer: Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital and the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford, which further exacerbates travel costs.

Among other things, the CoC offers “Bags of Love,” which is a tote bag stuffed with “day-to-day items most needed during the hospital stay, as well as vital resource information for the parent,” according to CoC’s website.

Salguero has lived in Wilton for 13 years. She is married with three children, and said that Wilton’s schools “have been incredibly supportive” of providing extra care for Carlos, now 12 years old.

Patch extends a very warm ‘congratulations’ to Salguero, Ladenheim and LaMonte for their extensive efforts to provide comfort for those struggling with this devastating disease. Please view the video to the right for a more, personal insight into what the CoC is all about.