At just ten years old, Destinee Coronado faced a life-altering challenge when she was diagnosed with stage three ovarian cancer. This diagnosis followed a distressing incident at a family wedding, where her parents noticed her unusual fatigue. Medical examinations revealed a football-sized tumor on her ovary, leading to a five-month chemotherapy regimen. Today, at 18, Coronado is not only cancer-free but also embarking on her first year at San Jose State University.
The financial burden of her medical treatment was overwhelming for her family. Their savings were nearly depleted, and they faced the prospect of losing their home. Fortunately, they received crucial support from the Shop with a Cop Silicon Valley Foundation, a nonprofit that provides assistance to children in need. Following Coronado’s diagnosis, the foundation organized a fundraiser that raised $10,000, alleviating their financial stress during a challenging time. According to Alicia Cortez, the nonprofit’s secretary, the funds ensured that the family could focus on Coronado’s recovery without the looming worry of financial instability.
Continuing Support for Higher Education
Now, seven years later, the foundation is once again rallying to support Coronado, this time aiming to raise $15,000 to help cover her college expenses. This fundraising effort is part of the annual Wish Book initiative, which connects donors with individuals needing support during the holiday season. “I was very driven by the support and the love that they had given to me when I was sick,” Coronado shared. “They didn’t really have to do anything for me, but they just wanted to help me.”
The Shop with a Cop Silicon Valley Foundation was established in 2008, founded by Darrell Cortez as he prepared to retire from the San Jose Police Department. Inspired by a national model, the organization began with a modest shopping spree for ten children accompanied by police officers. The program has since expanded significantly, providing support to 180 children from local schools through a reading program and distributing school supplies at the start of each academic year.
Coronado’s family first connected with the foundation when her mother, Miriam Villanueva, began volunteering in 2015. Following her diagnosis, Coronado underwent surgery to remove the tumor and her left ovary, leading to an intense period of treatment that halted her fifth-grade schooling. Reflecting on that time, she noted, “I didn’t know what cancer was… I was just scared. I didn’t know what was going to happen.”
A Bright Future Ahead
With her mother dedicating her time to care for her, her father, Jovani Villanueva, became the family’s primary provider. He described the struggle of balancing work and hospital visits, stating that the foundation’s support was instrumental in keeping their home. “I was trying to be as strong as I could without breaking, but it was hard,” he recalled.
Missing a significant portion of her education fostered a sense of academic insecurity in Coronado, yet it also fueled her ambition to pursue higher education. Despite her concerns about burdening her parents with college costs, the recent offer of financial support from the foundation has given her newfound confidence. “My end goal is to prove myself wrong,” she asserted, emphasizing her desire to succeed academically.
The funds raised through the Wish Book will assist in covering Coronado’s tuition, materials, transportation, and incidental costs as she studies child and adolescent development. She aims to become a teacher to provide resources and support to children in need, inspired by her experiences in the hospital. “When I was in the hospital, I would see all the other kids on my level,” she explained. “The counselors and emotional therapists… made our day with the little energy that they had and all the fun materials.”
Coronado hopes to one day establish her own nonprofit organization, motivated by the work of Darrell and Alicia Cortez. “I think that I also have it in me to do that,” she remarked.
As Coronado begins her studies at San Jose State University, she is determined to make a positive impact on future generations, embodying the spirit of resilience and community support that has shaped her journey.
Donations for the Wish Book initiative can be made at wishbook.mercurynews.com/donate, helping to ensure that Destinee Coronado’s aspirations become a reality.