Christmas is a child's favorite holiday, but Christmas Day isn't fun for every kid coping with cancer.
"Financially, emotionally, every single way, it's hard,” says Erika Lopez, whose daughter Baulina was diagnosed with kidney cancer when she was three years old.
"She was being potty trained, and when I took her to the restroom, she peed blood,” Lopez says. “So from there we took her to the doctor, and they told her there was some mass in her abdomen.”
The Lopez family joined with dozens of other local families at the Baker Street Village Apartments Community Center for the American Cancer Society's annual Kid's Club Winter Party.
It's bad enough that they're dealing with cancer, so for a few hours we want to make them happy, we bring in Santa Claus and they're eating they're favorite foods," says Chris Carrera with the Raiders organization.
Kern Health Systems and several clubs and vendors donated gifts and food for the children fighting cancer. Members of the All Star Dance Academy added a little holiday cheer with their dance to “Jingle Bells.”
The American Cancer Society has been hosting the kid's club party for nearly three decades.
Each child and their family receive a sweatshirt and goodie bag, including a gas card to help families traveling to and from the hospital for cancer treatments.
“A lot of them are having a lot of hardships,” Carrera says. “So we want to provide a little bit more, so it’s important to have the families here, let them know that they’re not alone.”
Baulina Lopez had one of her kidneys removed, so now at 9-years-old, she says she's happy to be cancer free. She has one Christmas wish for other kids fighting cancer.
"I want them to have the best Christmas ever,” she says.” And to have a good life."
Lopez says her daughter is a miracle and she’s grateful for the organizations that have helped her family and others have a Merry Christmas.
"Just seeing her how excited she is right now, and seeing Santa Claus and everybody here is really nice," she says. “There's hope, you know, no matter what, there's a Christmas for them."
