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Bringing Smiles to Kids with Cancer

The Smiles Program, founded by Savannah's Organic Ranch, delivers self-contained rolling TV's with Wii entertainment systems and DVDs to Southern California hospitals.

When Savannah Sachen was in the hospital for cancer treatment, she shared a room and a television with a boy who spoke only Spanish.

“His parents probably worked or had other children, because he was alone most of the time and seemed really sad,” said Lisa Sachen, Savannah’s mom. “We couldn’t communicate with him and so Savannah felt really bad for him.”

When Joe Sachen, Savannah’s dad, asked if she wanted more DVD’s, Savannah asked if he would buy the little boy a DVD player of his own.

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“She wanted to give him something to distract him from his sadness and something that was all his,” Lisa said.

Joe Sachen returned with three DVD players. “The original DVD program was born, and Savannah was overjoyed to find that other kids would benefit from having their own DVD players,” said Lisa.

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In 2007, Savannah died at age 8 of a rare form of cancer. To fulfill Savannah’s dream of becoming an organic farmer, Joe and Lisa founded Savannah’s Organic Ranch (SOR), a non-profit organization that educates children and adults on the benefits of eating healthy organic foods.

In addition, SOR aims to ease the lives of children who are battling cancer. The original DVD program became the Smile Cart Program. Smile Carts are self-contained rolling TV’s with Wii entertainment systems. The carts, DVD’s, and hair hats (visors with fake hair on top) were delivered to hospitals by SOR board members.

Since SOR’s inception in 2007, deliveries have been made to Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) in Orange, Kaiser Permanente in Los Angeles, City Hospital of Los Angeles (CHLA) and Miller’s Children’s Hospital in Long Beach.

To make it easier for hospitals, recent deliveries have included small, lightweight DVD players which the kids can use to play games and listen to music CD’s. DVD’s, hair hats and hand-held game consoles also are provided by SOR.

Bob Rieden, chairman of the board for SOR, said the DVD players offer a great diversion to children who are undergoing cancer treatment, and the kids really appreciate the fake hair hats.

“Those hats don’t come off until the hair grows back,” he said. “This is probably the best give-back program where our monies are at work."

SOR board member Jim Waterhouse is in charge of what is now called the Smiles Program.

In late July, Waterhouse, along with his wife and daughter, delivered 25 DVD players and more than 40 DVD’s to CHOC in Orange. In August, Waterhouse and his son delivered 30 DVD players and over 40 DVD’s to Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center.

“We plan to do two more DVD deliveries this fall,” said Waterhouse. “I wanted our kids to be involved to show how to give back to others. When you see the children’s faces light up and smile, it makes all the fundraising and coordination efforts worthwhile."

Funds raised from the annual SOR Golf Tournament support the Smiles Program. SOR also supports research by making donations to the Pediatric Cancer Research Fund

“We know that this [SOR] is not going to be the organization that’s going to find a cure for cancer," Rieden said. "We’re here just to make a difference and to put a smile on a child’s face.”

To learn more about Savannah’s Organic Ranch or to make a donation, please visit www.savannahsorganicranch.org. Donattions of new or gently used DVD’s or Wii games may be dropped off at 92 Argonaut, Aliso Viejo.

 

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