Formerly homeless family faces new struggle

By: JOHN RAIFSNIDER - For The North County Times
Fundraiser planned Sunday for little girl fighting cancer | Thursday, March 6, 2008 11:55 PM PST ∞

VISTA ---- Before the decorations are put away, before all the cards expressing hope are read, before all the donations are counted, April Craft says she will covet one thing more from people who attend a fundraiser Sunday for her sick child: their prayers.

"We are so thankful for everything that has been given to us, and for everything that will come our way in the future," Craft said Tuesday, as her 3-year-old daughter, Sierra Wiseman, played nearby with her father, Scott, in the family's Vista apartment.

Sierra was diagnosed in January with neuroblastoma, a rare and often fatal form of childhood cancer. Her parents are recent graduates of North County Solutions for Change, a program that helps homeless families get back on their feet and find independent housing and jobs.

Solutions will host a fundraiser for the family from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday at 722 W. California Ave. in Vista, said Antonea Peterson, the staff member organizing the event. The family ---- including Sierra and two older siblings ---- are living in housing provided by Solutions while Sierra undergoes treatment, Peterson said.

"This family deserves all the help we can give them," she said. "They just graduated from our program in September, and then they're faced with dealing with Sierra's illness ---- it's just so sad."

Sierra's parents --- Craft, 32, and Wiseman, 28 ---- will miss Sunday's fundraiser because they plan to be at Sierra's bedside as she recovers from surgery Thursday at Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego. The operation ---- to harvest stem cells ---- is one that the family, Sierra's doctors and a throng of prayer partners from around North County hope will help save the little girl's life.

The magnitude of Sierra's illness began to come to light early on Jan. 18, her mom said.

"Initially, she was complaining of pain in her stomach, and she said that her legs weren't working," Craft recalled. "Later, while we were getting her some medicine for her upset stomach, she told me that her stomach didn't hurt, but that she was hungry."

However, when the family went out to get some dinner, Sierra "took one bite of her waffle ---- she's usually a very good eater ---- and then she lay down and didn't want to move," her mom said. "Right then I decided to take her to the hospital ---- I knew something was very wrong."

Doctors at Tri-City tested Sierra for illnesses such as appendicitis, then decided to transfer her to Rady Children's Hospital, her mom said. Specialists there later determined the devastating cause of her symptoms.

The treatment, including the surgery and six weeks of intense chemotherapy, is grueling, but the family is trusting God to get them through, Craft said.

"If everything goes just as it should, she has a 30 to 40 percent chance of surviving," Craft said. "Obviously, we're praying for a better outcome."

Sunday's fundraiser should help the family with two of its most pressing needs: money to purchase a reliable car for the frequent trips to San Diego, and cash to offset the cost of fuel and food while the couple are away from home with Sierra, organizers said.

"Since Sierra got sick, I've had to quit working to be with her and care for her," said Craft, who has spent much of her time at the hospital, where Sierra undergoes chemotherapy. The family has been borrowing a vehicle to make the 100-mile round trip.

"We've got a car that has been loaned to us from my aunt," said Wiseman. "We're happy to have it, but it's borrowed, and if it breaks, I'd feel terrible because I couldn't afford to fix it. Plus, it's their car ---- they need it."

Pastor James Jerpseth of King of Kings Lutheran Church in Oceanside said he is helping spearhead the effort to secure a car for the family.

The congregation, which "adopted" the family during the past holiday season, has been working with the sales staff at Toyota of Carlsbad to buy a vehicle at dealer cost, Jerpseth said.

Meanwhile, Craft said, the family is grateful for the help that so many have already provided. "We're so very thankful for the support, strength and hope that everyone has given to us ---- we've been overwhelmed."

She then reiterated the family's need for something that money can't buy.

"There is one thing that everyone can do for her that doesn't take much time and won't cost anything at all ---- they can pray for her," Craft said.

For more about Sunday's fundraiser, call Jerpseth at (760) 757-2525 or Peterson at (760) 310-9845.

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