Regina & Leileen

Leileen was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 2. She learned to ride a bike in the hospital halls, and her first childhood friends were nurses and doctors working around the clock supporting her as she was in and out of countless rounds of chemotherapy. Leileen’s grandmother, Regina, never left her side even when Leileen’s mother found herself unable to support her. Regina was at every appointment she could make and by Leileen’s bedside for nearly 10 years. As soon as Leileen was in remission, Regina was able to take her back to her home in Anaheim. 

Tragedy struck grandmother and granddaughter again when Leileen was diagnosed with neurotoxicity from the immense toll chemotherapy took on her body. At the same time, Regina was suddenly removed from her home after a separation from her husband. However, Regina remained persistent and continued to work for Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) as a bus driver even through the pandemic. “I didn’t know where I was going or what I was going to do. It doesn’t matter if you have a job, when a crisis hits, it hits.” 

That’s when they found themselves in a motel, where Regina was scrambling for services to keep Leileen and herself afloat. Then a friend who worked in social services told her about Illumination Foundation. After a couple of phone calls, Regina and Leileen had their motel costs covered and soon moved into Illumination Foundation’s newest Family Emergency Shelter, Plumeria House in Anaheim. Plumeria House is designed specifically for children who have a chronic illness or a physical disability. 

Andrew Castillo, the Manager of Family Programs, weighs in “Our goal is to get families off the streets and into a safe place where they are able to work on their goals with their case manager and work towards finding permanent housing with a housing navigator.” Andrew was Regina and Leileen’s first point of contact when they moved into Plumeria House and reflects on what would have happened if this home was not an option for them. “Without Plumeria House, Regina and so many others like her would still be on the streets or living in motels.” 

Today, Regina and Leileen are still at Plumeria House and are on the journey to being housed. With the many services Illumination Foundation offers, from financial literacy classes  to meeting with licensed therapists one-on-one, Illumination Foundation’s goal is to support our clients and find sustainable solutions no matter their situation. This Holiday, there will be many families who are looking for support and hoping that 2022 will be the year they are able to turn their lives around. 

“I am so thankful for Illumination Foundation because I had no idea where I was going,” Regina says, “I know that this is just my stepping stone.”