Families grieve in Oak Park

Cody Badalato The past few weeks have been a difficult time in Oak Park, a community struck by a series of tragedies involving sickness, accident and death.

With the holidays approaching, Oak Park residents are doing all they can to help.

On Dec. 14, Cody Badalato, a 14-year-old eighth-grader at Medea Creek Middle School, died just days after being diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

On Dec. 10, Michael AbergelGal was killed in a car accident on Interstate 10 in Colton, leaving behind his wife, Esther, and four children: two Oak Park High School students and two Oak Hills Elementary School students.

And Fay Miller, a longtime Oak Park resident, was recently diagnosed with cancer of the brain, lungs and abdomen. The single mother of two college-age daughters cannot work and is in financial distress.

A number of initiatives are underway to assist the families both financially and emotionally.

Cody Badalato

The handsome, athletic and outgoing teenager seemed perfectly healthy until the night of Dec. 7 when he suddenly couldn't breathe and suffered cardiac arrest, according to a web blog posted by his father. Throughout the past week, relatives, friends, acquaintances and strangers posted messages of love and support for the Badalato family.

BELOVED BOY— Cody Badalato, in a picture from his website, lost his battle against a sudden onslaught of leukemia on Dec. 14. "Who needs a hug? You do!" he would often tell his parents. His story can be found at codybadalato.com After being airlifted to UCLA Medical Center and undergoing extensive testing that included a bone marrow transplant, it was discovered that Cody had a mass in his chest diagnosed as acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He had experienced lung problems as an infant, but they were not said to be related to the leukemia.

Although unconscious, Cody began chemotherapy treatment. He had just turned 14 on Dec 13. He died the next day.

A community service is being planned for after the holidays.

For information about the boy's life, visit www .codybadalato.com.

The Gal family

Gal's Chevy Astrovan spun out of control on the freeway, possibly the result of a tire that had come off, according to the California Highway Patrol. He died at the scene.

Oak Hills parents have set up a fund for the family, which includes four children—Daniel, 18; Ben, 16; Shani, 5, and Maya, 4. Donations may be dropped off at the Oak Hills Elementary School office or mailed to: The Abergel-Gal Family Fund, c/o Oak Hills Elementary School, 1010 Kanan Road, Oak Park, CA 91377.

Checks should be made payable to the Oak Hills Staff Association; bulk checks will then be issued to the family.

For more information about the fund, contact Carrie Gaspar, an Oak Hills mother and neighbor, at TheGaspars@aol.com.

Friends and neighbors of the family are holding a streetwide garage sale from 8 a.m. to noon Sat., Dec. 20 in the 400 block of Medea Creek Lane. All proceeds will benefit the family, which moved to the neighborhood in July.

For information about the garage sale, contact Bryan Poe at bryan.poe@sbcglobal.net, or by calling (818) 597-9344.

The Gals had been commuting from Simi Valley to bring their children to Oak Park schools.

"I am always proud of how our families come together in times of great need," said Oak Hills Elementary School Principal Leslie Heilbron. "It is my honor to be part of such a loving community."

Fay Miller

After a fall at work that required stitches, Miller, 54, underwent testing and discovered she had cancer in her brain, lungs and abdomen. No longer able to work or see well, Miller is going through a very difficult financial time, said her close friend Robin Stoll.

Miller worked for many years for Comfort Keepers as a caregiver for people who require in-home care.

Miller has been an Oak Park resident for more than 18 years. Her daughters, Samantha, 21, and Melissa, 18, graduated from Oak Park High. Both girls work and are students. Samantha attends California State University Channel Islands, and Melissa attends Moorpark College.

Miller, who was diagnosed in early November, underwent radiation and is beginning chemotherapy.

The community is holding a garage sale beginning at 7 a.m. on Sat., Dec. 20, at the Granowitz family home, 5384 Carmento Drive, in Oak Park. Donations for the garage sale may be dropped off at the home.

Salon 805, at 1772 Avenida de Los Arboles in Thousand Oaks, is holding a station decorating contest and a raffle of men's and women's hair care products and free services, with proceeds going to Miller to help pay for medical expenses.

"Many people in the community have helped and are donating meals and their time," Stoll said. "It's been a nice community feeling that people have cared."

She also credited the Talbert Family Foundation with its support. Julie Talbert, who runs the foundation, purchased a computer for Melissa to use for school.

Donations to the Friends of Fay Miller Fund may also be made at the website www .talbertfamilyfoundation.org/ pages/Fay.html. A prompt on the page may be used to obtain additional information on Miller's condition and how to help through www.lotsahelpinghands .com.