A splash of hope

June Casagrande

Someday soon, a cancer patient will get a vase of daffodils. The

recipient won’t know who hand painted the word “hope” on the

cobalt-blue vase; all he or she will know is that it was decorated by

someone who beat the disease -- 25 years ago.

“I’m hoping that when they read this and see I’m a survivor of 25

years, it will give them hope,” said Paula Neff, one of about 100

cancer survivors who painted vases for the American Cancer Society’s

19th annual Daffodil Days campaign. Neff survived a rare, potentially

fatal form of throat cancer with a clean bill of health since.

Society members will deliver the vases to cancer patients in

Orange County, filled with daffodils, the society’s chosen flower to

symbolize hope for cancer patients. This year, the Daffodil Days

campaign is working in cooperation with planners of the upcoming

Relay for Life fundraiser, which also benefits cancer patients.

Daffodil Days is itself a fundraiser, in which companies,

organizations and individuals take orders for daffodils, which are

later delivered to the buyers. People buy the flowers for themselves

or as a gifts.

In Thursday’s vase-painting get-together at the Newport Beach

Radisson Hotel, survivors decorated daffodil vases, which the society

will deliver to cancer patients -- a message of hope from the people

who know hope well.

“I’m so grateful for everything the American Cancer Society has

done that helped in my recovery -- their research is the reason I’m

here today,” said Jonathan Winters , a Yorba Linda resident who beat

cancer three years ago.

Mary Santos, a Fullerton resident, painted her blue vase with

purple flowers and green leaves as she recalled how important hope

has been to her recovery: She’s a three-time survivor, having lived

through colon cancer, breast cancer and melanoma.

“When I was first diagnosed, I didn’t have any grandchildren. Now

I have three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren,” Santos

said. “I look forward to seeing my family grow and, who knows, maybe

great-great grandchildren.”

* JUNE CASAGRANDE covers Newport Beach and John Wayne Airport. She

may be reached at (949) 574-4232 or by e-mail at

june.casagrande@latimes.com.