A Legacy of Love
Wings of Angels Supports Local Families…
Alyssa Araiza was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) at age 4. After chemotherapy, she went into remission before a recurrence brought further treatment, including bone marrow and stem cell transplants.
“After Alyssa relapsed, our lives were in turmoil,” says Donna Araiza, Alyssa’s mother and co-founder with her husband, Dan, of the Alyssa Araiza Wings of Angels Organization. “We spent over five months of her last 14 months in the hospital, most of this time in San Francisco, far away from our family and friends.”
Alyssa’s older sister, Carrie, donated the bone marrow and stem cells that gave Alyssa and her family hope — and time — for Alyssa to briefly return to school, get her puppy Sugar, and go to Disneyworld with her family. She passed October 6, 2001, shortly after her ninth birthday.
During the last hospitalization, Alyssa’s parents spoke with her about creating an organization that she “would be the boss of” that would help families like theirs. In May 2000, the Araizas launched Wings of Angels to assist families of seriously ill children who need to travel for treatment.
“While we are grateful for the new Redding cancer facility opening in September, no local children will be treated here,” says Hillery Arnett, Alyssa Araiza Wings of Angels board member and mother to Colby, who was diagnosed with medulloblastoma at age 6 and another tumor five years later. “Pediatric cancer is so specialized; families need to travel to the hospitals that have experience with these types of cancers.”
Arnett describes her son as a “fun, happy kid with the best sense of humor” and says, “our family had financial and emotional support from people who have been there and truly understand the daily battles, the absolute fear that lives in your soul with a diagnosis like ours.” Colby Arnett passed on February 12, 2022, at age 13.
“Surviving as a family is difficult enough,” says Araiza. “Combined with serious illness, months of separation, stress, and in many cases a parent giving up his/her job to be a caregiver, it can be an unbearable burden.”
To help relieve this burden, Alyssa Araiza Wings of Angels provides monthly pre-paid gas and grocery cards to its 32 currently active families as well as paying utility bills, mortgage or rent, vehicle repairs and propane as needed ($2 million to date for more than 300 families). The all-volunteer organization has no financial overhead and uses Alyssa’s childhood bedroom as its office.
Its Classics 4A Cause Car Show at Everything Medical in Redding on September 19 and the annual Childhood Cancer Fundraiser Dinner at Win-River Resort and Casino on September 26 are two of its biggest fundraisers, held annually during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
“The Alyssa Araiza Wings of Angels kids serve as celebrity judges for the car show,” says Araiza. “They’re chauffeured to the event in a classic car and step out onto a gold carpet where paparazzi are waiting.” The kids carry their scoring clipboards with them and sign autographs for people lining the carpet.
For the third year, the Redding Police Department, Anderson Police Department and Shasta County Sheriff’s Office will each entirely wrap one patrol vehicle in gold for the month. The Redding Fire Department will display two- and four-foot gold ribbon decals on an engine from each station and on administrative vehicles. RDG Wraps donates the design and labor and Wings of Angels funds the material costs, which averages about $20,000 for the month.
Shasta County Sheriff Office Investigator Molly Roberts says her office first became involved with Wings of Angels at the 2024 Classics car show, where they met 8-year-old Dexter Bezayiff, diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2023, whose dream was to become a law enforcement officer.
“In September 2024, Sheriff Mike Johnson officially swore Dexter in as an honorary deputy sheriff,” Roberts says. “Deputy Dexter’s swearing in represented much more than a ceremonial moment. It gave the Sheriff’s Office an opportunity to create a positive, memorable experience for a child and his family.”
Tanya Bezayiff, Dexter’s mother, says, “Wings of Angels provided joy for Dexter when everything around him felt heavy. Since he was diagnosed in mid-October, one of the first things Wings asked for was a Christmas wish list for Dexter and his three siblings. Wings of Angels went above and beyond to help make our Christmas extra special.” Dexter Bezayiff passed January 29, 2025, just after his ninth birthday.
Many of Wings of Angels’ children (from under a year old to upper teens) and their families continue daily the journey of managing the illness.
Lucas Bartsch, 15, was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor at 10 months old. After treatment, he went into remission for almost a decade before being diagnosed four years ago with a rare form of kidney cancer. Still, he says, “I can do this; nothing can stop me,” thoughts that he says “have really helped me get through the toughest times.”
Diagnosed three years ago with ALL, 12-year-old Alexie Vanderburg says, “having cancer has made me feel sad. It’s not something that you would think would happen to you.” Importantly, she wants kids newly diagnosed with cancer to know “everyone around you is here to help you, and you can do this. You’re not alone.”
For Donna and Dan Araiza, parents who never wanted their child to be forgotten nor her suffering to be without meaning, Colby, Dexter, Lucas and Alexie are four among many whose lives have been changed by Alyssa’s legacy.
“We will never get over losing Alyssa,” says Araiza, “but knowing that we’ve made a difference because of her gives our lives purpose.” •
www.aawoa.org
Article Written By:
Claudia Mosby is a Redding-based freelance writer. She is the founder and director of The Expressive Spirit, a wellness company in Mt. Shasta offering spiritual direction, arts and nature-based activities and consultancy for grief and loss.
