In The News
Great Community Gets Lift
J. Omar Carranza's Great Community charity for military cancer patients raised $2,600 at a recent fundraiser at the Airport Lounge in Little Italy. By auctioning off an autographed LaDainian Tomlinson poster and donating all cover charges, the charity was able to raise enough money to keep its streak of good deeds alive. The fundraiser also served as a birthday celebration for Christopher Glenon , which helped stir up a turnout of more than 180 people. In attendance were singer and former servicewoman Katie Alyson , actress and singer Amber Ojeda and Elate Wear model Kenny Burton .
Carranza, an active member of the armed forces, who was diagnosed with testicular cancer in July of 2006, founded the Great Community charity. After the cancer spread to his abdomen, Carranza was forced to endure two surgeries and four rounds of chemotherapy. The final procedure occurred on January, 13, 2007, when he underwent a Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection. The operation lasted more than nine hours, but was effective and the cancer is now in remission.
Great Community is a unique organization that provides accommodations for the families of cancer-stricken soldiers. For example, it provides financial assistance for family members who must travel or take time off work to visit a visit an active or retired serviceperson who is battling the affliction. Research shows that the wounded heal 40% faster when surrounded by loved ones.
For more information on Great Community, contact Carranza at carranza61402@hotmail.com or visit online at www.greatcommunity.org . -M.L. |
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| (From left to right) Kenny Burton, Amber Ojeda, Armando Aguilar and Katie Allison all jumped at the chance to help raise money for cancer-stricken soldiers. |
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San Diego Chief Driven Towards Fighting Leukemia
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Timothy Wightman, Navy Region Southwest Public Affairs
CORONADO, Calif. (NNS) -- One San Diego-based Navy chief is doing everything he can to fight a disease that is expected to kill nearly 22,000 Americans in 2007: Leukemia.
Chief Machinist's Mate (SW/AW) Mike James isn't fighting for himself but for someone particularly close to him: his 13-year old son.
"I'm not able to do what I used to do, said James' son. I used to be outside a lot. Now, I don't go outside much because I'll feel sick.
His son was diagnosed in November 2006 with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. The condition involves an overgrowth of very immature blood cells. It is life-threatening because there are not enough mature blood cells to prevent anemia, infection and bleeding.
As a result, he is often relegated to staying home where the probability of infection is less.
His son and the rest of the James' family were happy to be outside Aug. 31 during a bone marrow drive. They, along with roughly 20 volunteer Sailors from San Diego regional medical clinics, gathered in front of the Naval Air Station North Island Exchange to search for someone who might be able to save his life.
One of the ways to treat the disease is with a bone marrow transplant. It consists of destroying leukemic bone marrow cells using high doses of chemotherapy and in some cases, radiation therapy.
Because high-dose chemotherapy severely damages the bone marrow's ability to produce cells, healthy bone marrow cells are provided intravenously to stimulate new bone marrow growth.
At a bone marrow drive, donors fill out a form with their information and then swab the insides of their cheeks on both sides and send the sample to Washington D.C., where it is analyzed for DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid.
At that point, the person donating is put on a donor list as a possible match for someone who needs a transplant. Some people are called a month after they give; some people are called years later. Some people are never called.
Having to spend a majority of his time indoors, James' son talked about some of the things he does to pass the time. He has developed a new hobby -- model-building. He has also gotten into remote-controlled airplanes after seeing his doctor fly one inside the hospital.
Hopefully I get one for my birthday, he said of the airplane. He turns 14 Sept. 9.
Around the time that he was first diagnosed, his 10-year-old sister tended to take exception to all the attention her brother was getting. Not the case anymore, he said.
We went to a Padres game and she would not leave me alone. Every two minutes, she was like, Are you okay? Do you want some water? And I was just trying to enjoy the game, he said smiling.
One of the volunteers at the drive was Storekeeper 3rd Class Omar Carranza. He is a cancer survivor and is the executive director of a non-profit organization called Great Community, which assists cancer patients and their families.
We try to help them out with everything from gas to hotel stays -- if theyre from out of town; food, bills, anything that we can do to help a military family thats going through cancer, well do it, said Carranza.
James said his son isnt the only reason he puts on the drives; they give people the opportunity to give something that thousands of people are in need of.
"To me, the biggest thing is not so much for [my son], but just to get people aware that, you can give something," James said. "You can save someone's life, whether it's [his] or somebody else's.
James said hes been very happy with the way the Navy and his command, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Norfolk Det. San Diego, have supported him in doing the drives and being there for his son.
My command supports me 100 percent. I get the time off that I need to be at the hospital with [him] when his mom cant be there. Theyre also going to set me up TAD somewhere for when he does go in for a bone marrow transplant. The Navys been great, said James.
James said he intends to do the drives for as long as he is able to.
"I'm going to keep on going," he said. "Even if we do find a match for [him], this is going to be my life goal to keep on going and support this organization and try to get bone marrow for people," he said. "Don't be afraid to donate."
For information on how to donate and register as a bone marrow donor, visit www.DODMarrow.org .
For more news from Navy Region Southwest Navy, visit www.news.navy.mil/local/cnrsw /. |
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In The News
Article by XKSanDiego News
January 16, 2008
Diana Ocampo and Eric Delsierro bring a battle of the brawn to the Balboa Naval Hospital 's combat veterans on Feb. 16 with their Total Combat fighting league. Omar Carranza of Great Community arranged for a section of the "4&B" venue to be set aside for approximately 20 wounded warriors who returned from deployment in October, all of whom will gain free admittance. The National Latino Peace Officers Association came to Carranza with the idea for honoring the injured warriors.
Navy veterans Ocampo (1992-2000) and Delsierro (1989-1991) are co-owners of the San Diego-based mixed martial arts league. Total Combat is similar to a minor league for the Ultimate Fighting Championship . It was founded in San Diego in 2003, although the first matches were held in Tijuana until the sport was made legal in California in 2006. The Feb. 16 event is the 26th in Total Combat history and will feature a main event of Toby Imada vs. Christian Vargas . There will be at least seven other matches and Delsierro is working to secure a female fight to add some diversity to the undercard.
The veteran-run fighting league has been a longtime supporter of the military community. Military personnel are always admitted at half price. Also, several military organizations, including the Army , support the league by purchasing advertising in the ring. For more information, visit www.totalcombat.tv or contact Ocampo at diana@totalcombat.tv . -Michael Lombardo
For Discounted tickets please visit: http://www.totalcombat.org/miscpage.html
Donors Step Up For Youth
Kevin James spent Independence Day watching dozens of people attempt to save his life. James, 13, has acute lymphoblastic leukemia and is in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant. More than 50 people answered the call of Omar Carranza's Great Community charity and the San Diego Blood Bank, which hosted a drive on James' behalf onboard the U.S.S. Midway on the Fourth of July.
About 60 volunteers had their mouths swabbed to determine if they could be potential matches. This was the first time a civilian pool was targeted, as all previous drives consisted of the armed forces population. Kevin's father, Mike, is a chief machinist mate stationed at the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Norfolk Detachment San Diego.
The blood bank also was seeking help for nine-year-old Amanda Wilkins , who suffers from hereditary spherocytosis. Wilkins currently requires blood product as part of her treatment regime, and a bone marrow transplant may be in her future. Her disease is rare and has not been sufficiently studied, so it is unclear whether such a transplant would be safe. A blood drive for Wilkins will be held on July 9 at Fry's Electronics in Kearny Mesa. There will be two blood buses present with the goal of collecting 100 pints. An Astro Jump, raffle and plenty of food will be present to encourage attendance.
For more information on the blood drive, contact Deborah Wilkins at amandas_angels_can_hear@yahoo.com . For more information on Great Community and its efforts to help Kevin, contact Omar Carranza at carranza61402@hotmail.com .- M.L.
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| Kevin James poses with parents Mike and Liza onboard the U.S.S. Midway. |
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Kevin's Fight
September 10, 2007
Kevin with his parents Mike and Liza at a bone marrow drive onboard the U.S.S. Midway.
Kevin James celebrated his 14th birthday with family and friends yesterday in his hospital room. James anxiously awaits a bone marrow transplant to battle the acute lymphoblastic leukemia he was diagnosed with last November. In hopes of helping James, more than 250 volunteers showed up at the North Island Exchange recently to have their mouths swabbed to determine if they were possible matches. Results may take a couple of weeks, but James is determined to not let the cancer bring his spirits down.
James, who was born in the Philippines, is also half Caucasian. His father Mike is optimistic about the possibility of finding a donor for Kevin because of that factor. The chances for a Filipino to find a bone marrow donor are one in 15,000, but the odds for Kevin are increased because he is both Filipino and Caucasian. The probability of Kevin finding a match is higher among the Asian and Filipino communities and, thus, the next drive is scheduled to take place at the Fil-Am Fest on Oct 6. in National City.
The C.W. Bill Young Department of Defense Marrow Donor Program sponsored the most recent drive. Most of the drives for Kevin have taken place among the armed forces population. The civilian drives have resulted in little participation. Mike James, a chief machinist mate stationed at the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Norfolk Detachment San Diego , has found the armed forces to be supportive to the cause. He hopes to schedule a drive in the future at the MCRD on graduation day when families and friends are on base to watch new marines graduate from boot camp.
In the meantime, Kevin waits. He spends a good deal of time in the hospital as the chemotherapy he is receiving weakens his body. Omar Carranza , executive director of Great Community San Diego , worries, should a donor be found for Kevin, he might be too weak to receive it. Carranza was on hand to help Kevin ring in his birthday, surprising the die-hard Red Sox fan with Red Sox paraphernalia. Great Community auctioned off an autographed Tony Gwynn bat donated by Planet Frame at the Serra Mesa street fair to generate funds for Kevin's care.
This year Kevin would have started his freshman year of high school, but due to his illness he is receiving home schooling a few times a week from the state. His father hopes that after receiving a transplant Kevin will be able to return to school without having fallen behind. Based on Kevin's determination and the people fighting for him, he will.
To find out more about how to help Kevin or the C.W. Bill Young Department of Defense Marrow Donor Program, contact Petty Officer 2nd Class Jodie Coffin at 619-524-4040 -Erin Murphy
http://veterans.xksandiego.com/archived_record.html?arid=853 |
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In The News
Marines Swoon Over Singer
Singer, actress and ex-Marine Katie Allyson delighted dozens of wounded warriors with her recent visit to the Naval Medical Center San Diego . Allyson autographed pictures, handed out CDs and spoke with the injured troops about her experiences in the service. Omar Carranza 's Great Community charity, which helps military and community families diagnosed with cancer, made her visit possible.
Allyson joined the Marines in 1998. She left three years later after breaking her nose and eye socket during an Army-Navy softball game. She now visits injured soldiers across the country to raise their spirits and rekindle the sense of camaraderie she enjoyed while serving. Allyson will be visiting Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio and Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington D.C. in the next few months.
The injured Marines in San Diego were inspired by Allyson's budding success. In addition to her singing career, she is writing a book aimed at humanizing soldiers, which will be finished by Sept.1. She is also preparing for a role with World Wrestling Entertainment , where she will be part of the next Diva Search. Despite her celebrity, the injured Marines seemed most impressed with Allyson's veteran status. She was able to relate with the troops through their common military experiences.
Allyson is currently seeking veterans to interview for her book. To contact her, visit her MySpace page at www.myspace.com/katieallysonmusic . -M.L.
| Katie Allyson signs autographs for dozens of wounded warriors. |
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