This is how it all got started: Six years ago, five year old Risha only had this to write about her pain, " I do not like my pancreatitis. It hurts me in my tummy a lot. It is bad. My mom and dad do not like it. No on likes it. I will not let anyone get this pancreatitis. It is very painful. My mom and dad never had it before and now I have it. Why do I have it? It hurts me a lot. I do not like it. I have to take medicine every time I eat. I have to go to the hospital sometimes and I do not like that at all! I wish nobody in the whole universe never gets it. I wish to God to get rid of my pancreatitis forever. I wish that my tummy pain would go away forever and ever. It's bad!"
    It all started when we were traveling abroad and on our way over, 3 year old Risha got traveler’s diarrhea. She was taken to see a local pediatrician for her vomiting and diarrhea. The doctor advised us that she had traveler’s diarrhea and prescribed her some medication to take for 10 days, 3 times a day. In 2 days Risha was up and about playing with her sister Rhea and her cousin.  After returning back home, the medication was stopped. Right after that Risha started complaining of stomach pains. She was taken to various doctors, including infectious disease specialists, to rule out any diseases related to travel. One month later she was admitted in the hospital with severe pain. After many hours of research the doctors came back and advised us that she had pancreatitis. This was the beginning of a very painful journey for Risha. The doctors had never seen such abnormal blood test results.  Risha was in and out of hospitals after that and had to go through several painful tests.  We went all over the country to see if we could find a doctor who could help stop the progression of the disease.  We knew there is no cure for this painful disease.  We never knew what to expect the next minute.
        At age 7, she underwent a 12 hour surgery in Minneapolis for an auto islet cell transplant and a partial pancreatectomy, whereby 2/3rd of her pancreas was removed, along with her gall bladder and appendix.  We anxiously waited for 12 hours in the waiting room holding our breath for this very complicated, risky surgery, which the insurance only approved after a 2 year battle. Right after the transplant, Risha was treated as an insulin dependent diabetic where she has to take insulin shots 4 times a day and check her blood sugar every 30 minutes to an hour.  This was done to protect her newly transplanted islet cells.  The pain was excruciating.
    At the age of 7, taking the shots was very difficult for Risha. The hospital Child Life Specialists and pediatric nurses had to intervene and help convince Risha.  Risha would cry, causing Rhea to cry, which then would Mom and Dad to have tears in their eyes.  On the 3rd day, doctor came to our room and gave us the shock of our life.  He stated that Risha has a microcarcinoid tumor in her appendix which was discovered during a routine biopsy.  Risha had to go through more oncological testing to make sure that the tumor had not spread anywhere in her body.  She was very lucky. It had not spread anywhere, since it was caught just in time.  There was no chemo available and it would not have been good news. On the other hand, her sister Rhea had to stay home in California with neighbors and friends for over a month while Risha was in the hospital.  Although the entire local community came to support Risha, there were a handful of kids who bullied not only Risha but Rhea as well, such as writing a " I hate you" note, or poking her cooling vest, or not allowing her to have lunch at the same table as the rest of the class for 3 entire months! 
        Risha was one of the youngest patients to ever have a partial pancreatectomy with an auto islet cell transplant.  Additionally, to also have the microcarcinoid tumor on top of her pancreatitis diagnosis was considered extremely rare, and we were very fortunate that the tumor was found.  If her surgery had not been scheduled at that time, the tumor would have gone undetected, and would have grown at a pace such that within several months, it would have posed a grave danger to her body.  Risha is now pain free for the most part, due to the auto islet cell transplant, and we honestly consider this a miracle.  There are many other people who suffer from the painful and debilitating disease of pancreatitis, who never shall receive any relief from the pain and it’s other side effects.  We therefore consider ourselves very lucky that she has been given some relief from this disease, even though it’s effects can always come back, requiring another auto islet cell transplant with a total pancreatectomy, a very major surgery.

Risha, then a 7 year old who underwent an Auto Islet Cell Transplant in March 2004 for Chronic Pancreatitis, understands very well the challenges of being in the hospital room and staring at the bare white walls! The Kids Who Care Foundation, a 501c3 tax deductible non-profit foundation, was founded by Risha with the help of her parents to cheer up and support other children with Pancreatitis and other chronic medical conditions. Kids Who Care’s mission is to brighten the days at the hospital for kids that are having major surgeries. Kids Who Care volunteers send out “smile packs” to children in the hospital and Ronald McDonald House nationally to brighten the days of the hospitalized children.  The “smile pack” box contains a giant “quilt cards” consisting of 20 “cheer up” cards made by the caring youths, along with books/DvDs, toys, board games, etc to bring a smile and make the hospital room bright and cheerful! Kids Who Care’s traveling variety show is also a big hit. Caring youths show off their talents to entertain children with special medical conditions by doing magic tricks, puppet show, dancing, singing, etc.  Risha also makes presentations at schools to educate kids on Pancreatitis/ Diabetes as well as teaches the kids to be more caring and compassionate towards children with chronic medical conditions.  Kids Who Care Club is headed by youths under the direction of caring adult volunteers where an entire family can get help bring a smile! KWCF’s program “My Journal”, also allows parents to write journals, upload pictures and write messages on the Message Board for their sick child online for free. Information on Pancreatitis is provided to create awareness on Pancreatitis and to create a support network for kids with Pancreatitis. Pancreatitis is a very painful, rare disease in children for which there is no cure. So please help Risha and Kids Who Care Foundation make a difference!

2010!

Risha, 13, co-founder of Kids Who Care Foundation was named California's top middle school youth volunteer for 2010 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism.  She was nominated by the Girl Scouts of Orange County.  Furthermore, Risha has been honored by the President of the United States of America with the President's Volunteer Service Award as well as a letter congratulating her.  As part of this award, Risha has been invited to Washington D.C.  for a four day, all expense paid trip.  While in Washington, D.C., Risha, as one of 102 State Honorees will tour the capital's landmarks, attend a gala awards ceremony at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, and visit with our congressional representatives on Capitol Hill.  Five middle school and five high school national winners will be picked at the recognition ceremony which will be held at the Smithsonian.

She has been invited by Ally Katz corporation to their "town hall" meeting at UCLA hall of fame, one of 150 girls chosen across the country to receive the award.  Additionally, she was named "activist of the month" by Teen Magazine couple months ago. Today, she has won "Spirit of Philanthrophy" award for Lazy Dog Cafe and wias recognized in Irvine on March 02, 2010 at their restaurant. This is a grand honor not only for Risha, who is extremely humbled and overwhelmed by all of this attention, but for all of us who are part of the family of volunteers for the Kids Who Care Foundation.

Risha is right now once again fighting this rare and painful disease of pancreatitis and other conditions.   All this while, she is trying to maintain her school workload, working on Kids Who Care Foundation projects with the help of her family members, she is a youth ambassador with the Make a Wish Foundation, she is an active Girl Scout, she is speaking to organizations on behalf of her foundation and she is actively involved with JCYC at the Jain Center of Southern California serving as "Director of Charity" for the youth.  Risha and Rhea's story teaches us all that there is always time for valuing and helping other people within our communities when one has the drive and wisdom to persevere.  She is proof that dedication, altruism, love of community, and spiriting help for those who are fighting medical battles, all are goals that we can attain if we just say, "Yes! I Can Bring A Smile."  Kids Who Care had brought smiles to over 1500 children in hospitals globally with the help of over 1300 volunteers of all ages!  Please visit kidswhocareclub.org to check out all the press releases in Forbes, Businesswire, Teen Voice, CNBC, Wall Street, IUSD, OC Register, KCBS,KNBC, KABC, KOCE, ICTV, India West, India Journal, U.S.Embassy magazine in India-SPAM, Girl Scout of OC, and more! You can also see a 3 minute video on what Kids Who Care does by clicking here:

http://www.kidswhocareclub.org/KWCF_Website/Movie.html