All children are precious, but some children are just born with a special nature that transcends the normal. Laura Diane Rothbard was such a child. She was born on July 9, 1995, the third child of Vanessa and Todd Rothbard of Saratoga, California. She had two older brothers, David and Alexander, who she cherished.
In November of 2002, Laura was diagnosed with a diffuse pontine glioma. This is a rare type of brain tumor which grows in the brain stem, the area of the body which controls breathing and other critical functions. Because of its location, it is inoperable and almost invariably fatal.
Notwithstanding the grim prognosis, Laura fully lived every day of her life, and was, without conscious effort, an incredible inspiration to all who met her, including those who were oblivious to her physical condition (following radiation treatments, Laura’s symptoms completely disappeared, and for most of the time following her diagnosis there would have been no way to tell by looking at her how ill she was – notwithstanding this, her effect on those who met her was incredible to behold. Complete strangers would comment on how very special an aura she had about her.).
Laura was kind and caring towards all, always putting the needs of others ahead of her own. She was totally unselfish, and had a special glow which would light up any room she entered. Her grace and courage in the face of unspeakable adversity moved others deeply, and remain as her legacy.
Laura died on Halloween day, 2003. Following months of nonstop dry, hot weather, the skies darkened and a torrential rainfall took place on the morning of her death. It was as if the whole world was weeping, and appropriately so.
Every Halloween her many friends forego trick or treating and gather at her gravesite at Madronia Cemetery to remember the brave little girl who was such a big part of their lives.
All of our lives are short – Laura’s, unfortunately, was shorter than most, but nobody who knew and loved Laura (and everyone who knew her loved her) would have traded her wonderful eight years for a hundred with anybody else. She is deeply missed, but her incomparable spirit lives on with us and remains a beacon of love and hope for us all. We look forward to seeing her again in a better place.
To DONATE BY MAIL, please make out the check to ABBA Fund (do not write the family name on the physical check, which will invalidate the charitable aspect of your gift ... instead either print out this page to send with it or include a separate note to request that we preference your gift toward the family profiled on this page) -- then mail your check and preference request to:
ABBA Fund, PO BOX 868049, Plano, TX 75086-8049
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**AN IMPORTANT CLARIFICATION FROM ABBA FUND ABOUT YOUR DONATION**
Using the online form on this page automatically submits a request to preference your gift to the family profiled on this page as part of ABBA Fund’s Christian Family Adoption Grant Fund. ABBA Fund administers this fund and maintains full control and administration of all donated funds. We also strive to honor our donor’s preference requests in accordance with IRS and Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) guidelines.
The IRS allows donors to state a preference of how their contribution is used and request that the gift support a particular family — and it allows the charitable organization (ABBA Fund) to fully consider that request as long as the donor understands and acknowledges for charitably given tax-deductible gifts that the ultimate authority regarding the disposition of your gift is at the discretion of the charitable organization. By using this online form, or other method described above, you are acknowledging an understanding of those IRS guidelines.