Tag Archives: Mother

Making Life on the Water Safer

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Red Cross Volunteers bring home fire safety to the floating homes of Sausalito

Catherine Lee, Ron Lau, Vincent Valenzuela, Lesley Carmichael and Claire Cannariato (L to R) prepare to install smoke alarms in floating homes

“You’re on the water.  You’ve got wildlife out your window.  You’ve got the sun playing off the water.”

That’s how Flo Hoylman describes living aboard a houseboat in Sausalito, Calif., just north of the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge. But Flo, who serves on the board of the Sausalito Floating Homes Association, knows she and her neighbors on the water are just as susceptible to fires as any other Californians. 

“We still burn. And if there was a fire, like there was in Santa Rosa, the embers would come down on us, too.”

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A Courageous Fight with Cancer Inspires Hundreds to Donate, Even Mom

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Kelly Marie Harris Packard, 1991-2024. (Photo courtesy of Diane Harris)

She was a gifted athlete, captain of her team at Scotts Valley High School and an All-American at California Polytechnic State University. Intelligent and having acquired her master’s degree, she worked in New York City with a leading accounting firm before marrying the love of her life and landing her dream job in sports marketing in Portland.

In January 2023, Kelly Harris climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa, with her mother, Diane, and they reached the summit — 19,341 feet up. Shortly thereafter, Kelly was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a rare form of cancer. Kelly began chemotherapy and eventually underwent radiation, all while continuing to work.

“It took a toll on her body,” Diane said. Kelly received platelets and several blood transfusions over the course of her treatment. Realizing how dependent patients are on having a sufficient blood supply for this vital treatment, Kelly organized her own blood drive.

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Melody Yamaguchi’s lifelong service to the Red Cross mission 

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For many people, donating blood to the American Red Cross is not just a single act but a lifelong commitment to the humanitarian mission. Melody Yamaguchi is one of the super donors that has been donating blood since she was 18 years old, after getting inspired by her older sister. Through the changes and challenges in Melody’s life, she always found her way back to serving the mission of the Red Cross.  

Melody’s smile shines through a lifetime of change and challenges.

“During my cancer imaging, surgeries and radiation, my children and I were scared. All my energy went into supporting my children and finding my courage within.”

“I’m not an exceptional person, but through Red Cross blood donation, I’ve had the ability to do something extraordinary.”

–Melody Yamaguchi

Melody embraces the moment in her youth with a timeless look.
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