The Vernacchia family had just returned home from a trip to Disneyland last June when they were hit with the news that their 7-year-old daughter Sofia had acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Immediately they went into action, rearranging their lives to fight as a family, with both parents adjusting their work schedules to accommodate Sofia’s treatment, which required almost daily visits to Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital.
In September 2014, three months after her diagnosis, Sofia went into remission. Although she has to endure more than a year of post-cancer care, the most difficult part is over. She can go back to being a child and spending time with her Los Gatos family, including her brother Marco, 5, and sister Siena, 3.
This Mother’s Day was particularly special for the Vernacchias, who returned to an amusement park–California’s Great America–for the first time since Sofia’s diagnosis to celebrate her being cancer-free at the American Cancer Society’s Courageous Kids Day, which for the first time was combined with the organization’s Relay for Life.
“When I walked in, I got a little emotional,” said Denise Vernacchia, adding that the event “is so special. We have a huge family, and they have a big Mother’s Day celebration. Today was my choice on what I wanted to do, and I wanted to celebrate Sofia. I think it’s a very, very special event. It’s emotional for me, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
For the Vernacchias, who consistently focused on the positive throughout Sofia’s battle, May 10 was not only about celebrating Sofia’s remission but her First Communion, which had taken place the evening prior.
“It’s a happy day and I’m super proud of this girl,” said Vernacchia. “She has just been so strong and amazing. You meet families and you feel like you’re bonded in friendship because you’re in the wars together.” Vernacchia also mentioned how the incredible outpouring of support from the Los Gatos community was instrumental in the family’s battle, with neighbors offering respite and to prepare meals for her, the three children and her husband, Ralph.
Courageous Kids Day was one of the first times the family of five had been able to do something without the support of family or friends, and Sofia, who will continue remission treatment through Sept. 25, 2016, had only three things on her mind: eating hot dogs, riding rides and playing games.
“I want to go on one ride and play two games,” she said. “I went on the merry-go-round when I got here, but I want to go on Psycho Mouse, because I don’t like scary stuff. I only like things that are a little bit scary so I want to go on that roller coaster. The game I want to play is to win the giant stuffed animals. The other game I want to play is–I don’t know what it was, but I just saw steering and I want to steer something in the water.”
The May 10 Courageous Kids Day was more than a day of fun for the 600 children–3,000 people in all–in attendance. It was personal for a family that has raised close to $200,000 for the cause.
Los Gatos resident, Fran Rudé, who owns Sorelle Italian Bistro in Campbell, and her family have spent the last 15 years supporting Courageous Kids Day. Each year the family holds a private dinner and silent auction at Rinconada Hills to raise money for the event. This past year, however, the war on cancer hit close to home, as Rudé’s 8-year-old grandson, Rocco Dressler, was diagnosed with Burkett’s leukemia on Oct. 23 last year. One week later, Rudé was told she had glioblastoma.
“Rocco and I were in the hospital within one week of each other,” said Rudé. “When I was raising money for Courageous Kids, I did it because I wanted to do something at the clubhouse as an event for kids with cancer. I didn’t know that, lo and behold, my grandson would have it.”
Rudé said the most rewarding part of the Courageous Kids Day experience for her is seeing the children smile and be happy for one day; and despite having her own battle to fight, Rudé’s focus remains on Rocco, who just went into remission, as well as continuing to raise funds for the event.
Like Rudé, cancer has hit close to home for the event chairman, Bob Steinfeld of Los Gatos. Steinfeld’s son, Sam, was diagnosed with a pair of brain tumors. Although Sam lost his battle at age 3, Steinfeld has played a role in putting the event together every year but one since Sam’s death.
“Twenty-four years ago we attended this event as a family of a child with cancer,” said Steinfeld. “We found out when our son was 1 that he had two brain tumors and a possible tumor in his spine. He had many brain surgeries, and this event was very special for our family. We came here twice, and it was just a day of fun and a day away from cancer. We met some of the same people we would meet in the hospital but in a different setting. It was very special.”
Courageous Kids Day has been held annually on Mother’s Day for the last 26 years. Steinfeld said the family portrait taken by professional photographers is one of the most special aspects of Courageous Kids Day and that he has remained involved in the event for more than 20 years because “it’s for the families. The families are going through extremely tough times, and it’s not only tough on the child going through cancer but it’s tough on the siblings. Chances are the family is spending lots of time at the hospital and family members and friends are taking care of the siblings. This is a day when everybody comes together.”
In addition to spending a fun-filled day at the amusement park, each child received a book, “The Jester Has Lost His Jingle,” about a court jester who loses his ability to make people laugh and sets out to rediscover his sense of humor. Children also took home a commemorative hat and tote bag to decorate at the arts and crafts table, led by Clareen Dunivin of Los Gatos.
Dunivin, who has been a volunteer for the past 10 years, helps chair the auction committee for Rudé’s fundraiser and said this year’s dinner raised close to $30,000, which was then combined with $7,500 raised by Rocco’s Branham Hills Little League team for a nearly $40,000 donation to Courageous Kids Day and the American Cancer Society.
Although not affected by a child or grandchild with the disease in the same way Vernacchia, Rudé and Steinfeld have been, Dunivin was drawn in by Courageous Kids Day founder Gay Crawford of Saratoga, a longtime American Cancer Society volunteer, a cancer survivor herself. Dunivin, whose daughter Meka is married to Crawford’s son David, is inspired by the families and their stories.
“I realized–and I have two daughters–the first time I came to this that there’s no place else I wanted to spend my Mother’s Day,” she said. “I love the children. I love the spirit; the parents; the support these children get from their families. I love the fact that the whole family gets one day away from this horrible struggle.
“So many kids come through with their little bald heads from going through chemo, and I remember one year this gal came and worked on her quilt square [children made squares that were tuned into a quilt before the craft was switched to creating tote bags two years ago]. Someone took a picture and I had it displayed on a poster. The next year, she came and she had a full head of hair. She ran to me, and she threw her arms around me and said, ‘It’s me,’ and I said, ‘I know it’s you. I recognize that beautiful face.’ That was one day of spending a tiny bit of time with somebody. It’s a gift to me that I can come and be here, and I know everybody who’s here feels that way.”
Great America, as in years past, provided all of the tickets and lunch at no cost to the courageous kids and their families.
“For anyone who knows someone with cancer or has gone through it, there are two parts: the emotional part that’s really draining and the financial part that’s really draining,” said Great America’s communications manager Roger Ross. “This provides a little alleviation from both. You don’t have to pay to come here and you can have a day of fun, and that’s not always there for the parents and their kids who go through this.
“Sometimes cancer can stretch families, and it’s tough because they have to focus on the kid with cancer. That kid gets to be the hero today because the whole family got a day at Great America because of him or her, and it makes it fun for them. It’s a great event. Companies should give back, and this is our way of doing it.”