Helping ease heartbreak without a magic wand

Helping ease heartbreak without a magic wand

By John Sharify

This is the first time in a long time Gloria Strauss is feeling good. Some days she's in so much pain the 11-year-old can't even walk.

"It's not easy," she said. Not easy when your cancer has spread to your bones, into your liver. Not easy when your doctor tells you you might not survive the summer.

In another heartbreaking blow to the family, a thief broke into the family's van at Wild Waves Water Park at the beginning of the summer. The thief stole money, credit cards, a video camera and, worst of all, videos of Gloria in happier, healthier times.

"Any word on the things stolen?" I asked Gloria's mother, Kristen Strauss.

"No. Nothing," she said.

Don't you wish you could wave a magic wand and make everything reappear? We can't. But here's what we can do. And we have, with your help.

"These are donated meals," said Alissa Strauss, Gloria's older sister. She's showing us the meals donated by a company called Month of Meals.

There's more. Another company called Dinners Done Right donated meals to the family for one year.

The Strauss family also received $100 gift certificates from Bartell Drugs as well as Top Food and Drugs. Car Toys donated an MP3 player.

And one more thing - KOMO 4 News' Problem Solvers presented the family with gas cards. There are ten of them worth $100 each.

"Thank you so much," Kristen Strauss said.

"Yeah, I'm happy!" Gloria said.

If Gloria's happy, we're happy.
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