Redwood City, CA
1-800-348-8911
Dannille Vanderpool
Napa Central Dispatch
I retired from Napa Central Dispatch a little over two and a half years ago but I am still, and probably forever will be, connected to our Comm Center and now one of our dispatchers needs help. I'm not sure what to do or tell you at this point so I'll just give you the facts.
Her name is Dannille Vanderpool - she is a 33 yr old single mom with an 8 yr old daughter, Sydney, and she has cancer. She has worked for the City of Napa for 5 years and on January 1st, 2005 , she became a dispatcher. She does an excellent job as a dispatcher and in April of 2006 was been named "Dispatcher of the Year" (for her very first year on the job, that’s how good she is) - she followed that by being named "Dispatcher of the Year" again in April of 2007 (two years in a row – a previously unheard of feat in our department - especially impressive since she was still a rookie!).
Six years ago Dannille was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She fought hard and won that battle, but since then the cancer has metastasized several times. Each time Dannille and her doctors have stepped up, fought even harder, and beat the illness for a time. Last time I saw her she was in remission and was participating in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life - walking laps in the dark to both honor and support others. Since the end of July, however, the cancer metastasized yet again and this time it is stronger and the fight will be even more difficult. Dannille had surgery and was able to return to work but within a month she was dealing with it again and this time she started an intensive course of chemotherapy. Her organs began to fail, her heart is functioning at, at best, 80% capacity, and her blood count is so low now that further surgery is precluded. This past week she was in extreme pain and was transported to the hospital where a CAT scan revealed that the cancer has now spread throughout her abdominal cavity. Dannille is continuing to fight as best she can but all of her leave banks (including departmental catastrophic leave) will have been exhausted by the end of November and at that time she will no longer have City provided benefits so she will be responsible for paying for medical insurance for herself and her daughter (approximately $1200 per month) with SDI only paying approximately 65% of her regular salary. As you can see Dannille is in dire straits dealing with Stage IV Ovarian Cancer and things look like they will be getting worse before anything gets better.
Basic needs (like companionship and healthy food and transportation to and from school for Sydney) are currently being taken care of by dispatchers and by members of the departments she dispatches for (that would be Napa PD & FD, and the Napa County SO), as well as by family, friends, and community members. Several fundraising activities are also underway (a golf tournament sponsored by the Fire Dept, dinner at a local restaurant, and possibly a rummage sale to name a few).
Additionally, the Napa Police Officers' Association has established "The Dannille and Sydney Vanderpool Fund" to help defray the costs she is incurring battling cancer and to be of help to her daughter when she is no longer able to provide what is needed herself. For those who would like to donate, checks should be made payable to "The Napa Police Officers' Association" (NPOA) with "Vanderpool Fund" written in the memo field. Donations are tax deductible and the Tax ID # is 94-2410310. Checks can be mailed to Sgt. Tim Cantillon, NPOA @ Napa Police Department, 1539 1st St , Napa , Calif. 94559 .
Dannille needs a lot of things right now; hopes and prayers, positive thoughts, healing energy, emotional support, encouragement to keep fighting, hugs (virtual and otherwise), Divine Intervention, communication with folks who really know what she is going through now and will be facing in the future, and financial support. Instructions for financial support are given above, and cards and letters can be sent to Dannille c/o NPD at the above address.
Kevin, please feel free to edit this information as needed so that it can be put to the best use for Dannille. I have included a flyer that contain photos – hopefully you can use them too. Please contact either of us if you need anything else.
And thanks in advance for your help.
Vonn Fuqua
707-255-5935
Sherri Furniss, Napa Comm Center Manager
Office: 707-257-9533
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Kevin Willett
PSTC - Public Safety Training Consultants
www.pstc911.com www.911cares.com
WK: 650-591-7911 x 102
FAX: 650-591-8911
PGR: 800-880-5277
E-mail: kevin@pstc911.com
PO Box 5508 - Redwood City, CA 94063
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