Desi’s fighting spirit lives on in foundation, doll, bearing her name.
A milestone moment for a Valley family still grieving from the loss of their six year old daughter to cancer nine months ago.
The Desi Strong Foundation cut the ribbon Thursday on a new headquarters, and debuted a doll that aims to comfort other children fighting that terrible disease.
“This is the Desi doll,” says Terry Cechin, showing off a doll with striking light blue eyes and an infectious smile, that looks strikingly like his six year old daughter, Desi.
“Of course she’s bald because she’s going through chemotherapy,” he explains.
The Desi doll debuted Thursday, coinciding with the ribbon cutting of the Desi Strong Foundation off of Cook Street in Palm Desert, which is already giving back using money intended to help Desi with cancer treatment.
“The ten families we’re helping here in the valley is the biggest reward for us as a foundation. They’re very inspiring, and their families are going through a lot and they need help,” Cechin says.
Desi lost her battle with high risk neuroblastoma in March, nearly two years after a diagnosis that would rock the Cechin family, many in the Coachella Valley, and people across the country
“It’s hard to replace her,” says Cechin “but having this foundation in her name, it helps.”
“We started the foundation with money that was given to Desi for her treatment that we had left over, and we felt it would be a responsible way to use the money,” Cechin continues. “And it got the foundation off on the right foot, but we’ve had lots of fundraisers already and lots of caring, loving people who’ve already contributing to helping these families that we’re helping right now.”
“We are helping local children who have been diagnosed with life threatening illnesses,” explains Melissa Neiderman, Advisory Chair for the Desi Strong Foundation. “These people have to give up their jobs sometimes, and they can’t work because they need to be in the hospital with their children, and for the community to give back, they at least give these families some hope and some comfort while they’re going through terrible pain.”
That comfort includes the Desi doll, meant for children who have cancer, and inspired by Desi herself.
“When Desi had cancer, she would role-play with her dolls,” says Cechin. “She was the doctor and they were the patient, and she would check their vitals, and put IV ports in the dolls, and so watching her do this, we saw it was very therapeutic for her.”
Something even Desi’s sister, Dejah, agrees with.
“I think (the doll) looks just like her, and I think it’s one of a kind.”
1,000 Desi dolls are being made. 100 will go to Children’s Hospitals all over the country by Christmas.
Learn how to sponsor a Desi doll for a child with cancer.
Contact the Desi Strong Foundation at (760) 679-DESI or info@desistrong.org
Watch CBS Local 2 Monday at 5:30 to learn more about the Desi Strong Foundation and how they’re giving back in Desi’s name.
