Cancer is the nation’s second leading cause of death in the U.S. This year, there will be an estimated 1.7 Million new cancer cases diagnosed and more than 500,000 cancer deaths in the U.S. Cancer is something Angie Moon knows about all too well as it took her daughters life way too early.
“She was the love of our life, she changed our world,” says Angie.
In March of 1999, Angie and Chris Moon gave birth to a beautiful baby girl and life was great. But, by the time little Rebecca became 5, there was something wrong.
“She started having stomach pains and we had taken her to and from the pediatrician, to and from the ER, and had been told probably constipation or just nothing of anything to be concerned with. But, my intuition as a mom, I knew something was wrong,” says Angie.
But, Rebecca’s condition got worse, the stomach pain became more intense, and Angie knew something was seriously wrong. So, it was back to the pediatrician, but this time…a different diagnosis.
“She found a lump in her stomach and she was sent to the Children’s Hospital, MCG and sent us to Radiology. They did an ultrasound,” Angie says.
The result was Neuroblastoma cancer. It was a devastating blow to a young family. Now, 4-year-old Rebecca would not attend Pre-K and would need to be cared for by all family members during the process of chemotherapy and treatment.
Rebecca fought hard for 18 months, but she lost her battle in July of 2000.
After Rebecca’s death, both Angie and Chris remembered how much love and support they received during Rebecca’s treatment and passing. “I just thought how wonderful we felt when somebody took the time with us during our time that I wanted to be able to give back,” Angie says.
So, in October of 2000, the Rebecca Erryn Moon Foundation was born.
“Our mission, our goal is to give normalcy to children and their families in a time that’s not normal and to put smiles on children’s faces during their treatment. We give them a bag of love and appropriate toys, like Kindle Fires, and once a year, hold a charity golf tournament in Rebecca’s honor,” Angie says.
The Rebecca Erryn Moon Foundation has been helping children with cancer, and their families, for 14 years now and it keeps growing year after year from the golf tournament to donations. It truly is a labor of love for Angie and Chris Moon, and they will continue to give back the love and smiles that Rebecca gave them.
“With her birth, she changed me and my husband’s lives, and with her passing, she changed it altogether again,” Angie says.
Click here for more information on the Rebecca Erryn Moon Foundation, and how you can help out.
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