HIP HOP HELP; CONCERT PROCEEDS WILL HELP AILING BOY.Byline: Sylvia L. Oliande Staff Writer A senior project for two Santa Susana High School Santa Susana High School is the third high school located in Simi Valley. The school campus is a middle school that was converted. The school colors are: silver, black, white, and teal. The school mascot is the Troubador. They are a school of the arts. teens started out as a way to showcase local bands and DJs at a dance, while raising money and collecting food for the poor. But when a friend told them about 2-year-old Matthew Latta's battle with leukemia, they decided to use tonight's dance to raise money for the Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. boy and his family. ``I thought that if it was my little brother, I'd want someone to help him,'' said Marco Lira, 17, who organized the dance with friend Ryan Moran. ``Or if I was a parent and it was my kid, I'd want them to help him,'' he added. ``It feels good taking on this responsibility.'' Ryan, also 17, said it was easy to get the DJs and the bands to agree to volunteer to play at the dance not only for the exposure but also for the chance to help. ``It's a 2-year-old kid,'' he said. ``That's something that makes people stop and think. It can happen to anyone.'' Tom and Linda Latta said they have been overwhelmed by the support that has flooded in by family and friends since their only child was diagnosed on Oct. 16. And the benefit is another way they have been blessed. The money raised at the event will go into a fund set up by Matthew's aunt to help with medical costs and to supplement the family's income since Linda has had to take time off from work as a consultant to take care of the boy. Tom, a warehouse manager at a motorcross accessories manufacturing company, said they're not sure how his illness will affect them financially in the long run. ``That's not something we've been thinking about,'' he said. ``We've been concentrating all our energies on him and trying to get him through this.'' Tom said the first indication something was wrong came in early October when he noticed that bruises on Matthew weren't healing as quickly as they had before. Doctors thought nothing of it initially, but when red spots began to appear on the rim of the boy's ears, Linda took him to a specialist. Blood tests at Los Robles Robles is a common surname in the Spanish language meaning oaks, and may refer to:
Soon after the test results came back, the Lattas were told to rush their son to Children's Hospital A children's hospital is a hospital which offers its services exclusively to children. The number of children's hospitals proliferated in the 20th century, as pediatric medical and surgical specialties separated from internal medicine and adult surgical specialties. in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. for what was eventually an 11-day stay. ``We were devastated dev·as·tate tr.v. dev·as·tat·ed, dev·as·tat·ing, dev·as·tates 1. To lay waste; destroy. 2. To overwhelm; confound; stun: was devastated by the rude remark. ,'' Tom said. But while Matthew's parents said it has been a rough two months, their son is now in remission, has responded well to chemotherapy and still has an enviable amount of hair despite the treatments. He also still loves to watch ``Barney'' and to play with the ornaments on the family's Christmas tree Christmas tree Evergreen tree, usually decorated with lights and ornaments, to celebrate the Christmas season. The use of evergreen trees, wreaths, and garlands as symbols of eternal life was common among the ancient Egyptians, Chinese, and Hebrews. . Marco said an estimated 300 teens from Simi, Moorpark and the Conejo Valley The Conejo Valley is a region spanning both Southeastern Ventura County and Northwest Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States. It was discovered in 1542 by Spanish explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, and eventually became part of the Rancho El Conejo land grant by are expected to attend the dance, co-sponsored by the Boys & Girls Club Girls Club is a 2002 American television series created by David E. Kelley, who was also it's producer and executive producer. Only two out of a total of thirteen episodes created were broadcast on Fox Television in the United States and Global Television in Canada. of Simi Valley. The dance is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. today at the Simi Valley Boys & Girls Club, 2850 Lemon Drive. Tickets are $6 per person and a high school identification is required. CAPTION(S): 2 Photos PHOTO (1 -- 2 -- color) Above, 17-year-olds Ryan Moran, left, and Marco Lira have planned a concert at the Simi Valley Boys and Girls boys and girls mercurialisannua. Club featuring local bands that will donate proceeds to 2-year-old leukemia patient Matthew Latta, below, of Simi Valley. Joe Binoya/Staff Photographer |
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