Cancer can truly devastate a family. It did ours. Our son, Drake, bravely battled a rare form of cancer three times, until it finally took his life at the young age of 26. However, our family lost not one but two children during this painful time, as our 23-year-old daughter Kiersty developed severe PTSD from watching her beloved brother suffer and, chemically imbalanced, she ultimately left us first, two weeks before his passing.
To honor their memories and help to foster positive change in this world, we created Ripples of Change: The Drake and Kiersty Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity. The foundation provides free customized gift boxes to young adult cancer patient (18-35) receiving treatment in a San Diego County hospital setting. These young people often feel isolated as their friends pursue their independence, while they are left to struggle with a reality that can be lonely and terrifying. Our goal is to provide this unique population with hope as they navigate this difficult time in their lives.