Gifts of Hope: Home away from home

Becky has had family members flying in and out from Colorado and Florida to stay with her while at Christopher’s Haven for the eight-week treatment session.

"I told them all that this is when I need the family the most," said Becky’s mother Ximena Adames. "I asked them to please take care of my daughter."

Adames works as a medical biller for Colorado Anesthesiology Consultants. She has been required to stay at work in Colorado to maintain the insurance she needs to help pay for Becky’s treatment, which means she can’t be with her daughter for most of the session.

"It’s so hard to be here and not have her next to me to help her," Adames said.

Becky’s sister came to stay with her for a week, and her father and brother will be with her for Thanksgiving. Everyone is taking a week or so from work to rally behind her.

Becky Torres, 15, left is undergoing treatment on a brain tumor at the Francis H. Burr Proton Center at Massachusetts General Hospital. With her is Martha Welsh, executive director of Christopher’s Haven. (Staff photo by Benjamin Smith)

The apartment at 10 Emerson Place has served as a second home for Becky and her relatives, helping Becky feel more relaxed by making her feel more at home in Boston.

"There really wasn’t enough room, and you always had to eat out," she said about staying in a hotel.

Christopher’s Haven is a Wayland-based charity founded by Sudbury native Dan Olsen following his own battle with cancer. During his treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Olsen met parents who were sleeping in waiting rooms or their cars because they had no affordable lodging when they came to Boston for life-saving treatment for their child.

The charity gives families with children undergoing treatment at Mass. General Hospital a place to stay while in Boston for the four to eight-week treatment.

About 75 percent of the patients treated at the Francis H. Burr Proton Center are from out of town. In Becky’s case the proton center represents her best chance at keeping her vision. The brain tumor is located near the optic nerve and traditional radiation treatment would likely damage the nerve, causing her to lose vision in both eyes.

"When I heard that I told them to give me more options. That was unacceptable to me." Adames said.

So far the proton treatment is working, reducing the size of the tumor and not affecting Becky’s vision. Even with the risk of blindness, Becky admits she wasn’t keen on coming to Boston for treatment.

"I didn’t want to leave home," she said. "but I know the treatment was the best chance to keep my eyesight."

Becky had been expecting to start high school this fall before the tumor was discovered in June. She keeps in touch with her friends on the computer and enjoys drawing in her spare time.

The treatment sessions often leave Becky exhausted so the short walk to the apartment has been important. Christopher’s Haven purchased the apartment across from the hospital to be accessible to families using the center.

"Families need to be close by as they go through treatment, especially families with young kids, or toddlers," said Martha Welsh of Sudbury, executive director of Christopher’s Haven. "Most at the center will have at least one nighttime admission to the emergency room."

The charity’s ultimate goal is to buy a building within walking distance of Mass. General Hospital large enough to accommodate a dozen families. Housing costs for a family over the course of two months can run as much as $160 a day at hotels. Transportation, meals and other expenses add significantly.

Christopher’s Haven has launched a brick campaign, seeking donations for the purchase of "bricks" in the building. The goal is to raise $1.5 million in the coming year.

For more information on Christopher’s Haven call 888-901-KIDS or visit the Web site "www.christophershaven.org"

Editor’s note: The Town Crier is once again holding a Gifts of Hope campaign for a local charity. This year we have selected Christopher’s Haven, which maintains an apartment for families with children undergoing cancer treatment at Massachusetts General Hospital.

If you can give a Gift of Hope, please make your check payable to Christopher’s Haven, and send it to the Town Crier, 33 New York Ave., Framingham MA 01701. Donors will receive an acknowledgement letter and be recognized in the Town Crier, unless they wish to remain anonymous. Thank you for your support.

Reprinted with permission from the Wayland Town Crier