HOPE IN BLOOM; GIFTS SENT TO CANCER SURVIVORS.Byline: Krystn Shrieve Staff Writer 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. - When Barbara Mecham went to her radiation session Monday, her therapist gave her a bouquet of daffodils, representing spring's first flower and hope for cancer survivors Cancer survivors are those individuals with cancer of any type, current or past, who are still living. The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) pioneered the definition of survivor as from the time of diagnosis and for the balance of life, a person diagnosed with . Mecham, who had a cancerous tumor removed from her breast in November 1999, said seeing the flowers during her appointment at Simi Valley Radiation brought tears to her eyes. ``It was very touching,'' Mecham said. ``When you receive anything like this, it makes you feel like people care. That's what's helped me all along.'' Mecham, a 53-year-old Simi Valley resident, was one of thousands of cancer patients and survivors who received what the American Cancer Society American Cancer Society, n.pr established in 1913, this national volunteer-based health organization is committed to the elimination of cancer through prevention and treatment and to diminishing cancer suffering through advocacy, scholarship, research, calls gift-of-hope bouquets. Society donors order the bouquets as part of Daffodil daffodil: see amaryllis. daffodil Bulb-forming flowering plant (Narcissus pseudonarcissus), also called common daffodil or trumpet narcissus, native to northern Europe and widely cultivated there and in North America. It grows to about 16 in. Days, an annual fund-raiser to help support programs for cancer patients, research and education. The Simi Valley chapter gave out 6,000 bouquets 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 chapter, 136,000 bouquets. The Oxnard chapter also participated. Madeline Sattler, executive director of the Conejo Valley chapter, said Ventura County chapters have been participating in Daffodil Days annually for 15 years. ``Everybody really loves the gifts of hope,'' Sattler said. ``The bouquets brighten bright·en tr. & intr.v. bright·ened, bright·en·ing, bright·ens To make or become bright or brighter. bright their day. It's a cheery cheer·y adj. cheer·i·er, cheer·i·est Showing or suggesting good spirits; cheerful: a cheery hello. cheer symbol and a way of spreading hope and letting them know that people do care.'' Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. residents Jerry and Eva Nehring helped deliver the yellow bundles to homes and businesses in the Agoura Hills and Calabasas area on Monday, the first of three delivery days. ``It's a warm, fuzzy feeling,'' Jerry Nehring said as he waited for his Buick to be loaded. ``It's a joyful event.'' His wife found out she had breast cancer 10 years ago, when she was 55. She and her husband have been volunteer workers for the American Cancer Society for the past four years. In addition to delivering daffodils each year, the Nehrings drive cancer patients to and from doctor appointments. ``It's important because there are people who need us,'' he said. ``There's nobody else to drive them. Sometimes you get calls from the same person for a year, and sometimes you don't get calls anymore, and you don't ask why. You just do what you can.'' He said he and his wife plan to continue volunteering as long as they can. ``God willing and the creek don't rise, we'll just keep going,'' he said. ``Eva's doing fine now.'' CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- color -- ran in Conejo edition only) Beryl Eadie, left, and Martie Deckor get daffodils ready for delivery to cancer survivors Monday. More deliveries are scheduled for today and Wednesday in Ventura County. (2 -- color -- ran in Simi SIMI Sea Ice Mechanics Initiative SIMI Search for Intelligent Monkeys on the Internet SIMI Students Islamic Movement in India SIMI Society of Irish Motor Industry SIMI Smallholder Irrigation Markets Initiative edition only) Beryl Eadie, left, carries a vase of daffodils Monday while Martie Deckor holds a list of more bouquet deliveries to be made today and Wednesday to cancer patients. Lilly Barrett/Special to the Daily News |
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