– Mardi Ford

– The Observer

When redheaded 6-year-old Jack Carey was diagnosed with brain cancer in March 2004, making memories became a priority for his parents, William and Julia Carey.

"We all have things we want to do for our children," says Jack’s grandmother, Audrey Carey of

La Grande. "But when something like this happens, it creates a sense of urgency and you want to do it all."

She counts them off on her fingers. "Will was talking about going to Disneyland, Hawaii, on ski trips and camping he wanted to make all the memories he could."

But Jack didn’t have the time. He died three months later.

While in the hospital, Jack’s parents, who now live in the Portland area, got plugged into the Portland-based Children’s Cancer Association.

"They aren’t a pushy group, but they’re a presence," Carey says. "They’re there with whatever they can do for you. And my kids really needed them."

Founded by Cliff and Regina Ellis in 1995 after they lost their own child to cancer, the nonprofit now works with Portland area hospitals to provide information, counseling, advocacy and more for pediatric cancer patients and their families.

CCA’s Music Rx program brings members of the Oregon Symphony in to play for patients and their families. The program hosts workshops, provides singing lessons and shares a library of music for families’ use. Its Pediatric Chemo Pal program carefully matches a volunteer with a patient somebody to talk to, laugh with or cry with during the long weeks of treatment.

The CCA DreamCatcher Wish program enables families to make some of those all-important memories they may not have the resources or contacts to pull together.

Through this program the Carey family was able to take Jack on his last camping trip with the aid of a large recreational vehicle.

The Carey family was so blessed by the overwhelming support of the CCA they decided to spend the rest of Jack’s lifetime honoring his memory by raising funds particularly for the non-profit’s newest resource, Caring Cabin.

Located by a private lake on 24 wooded acres in Pacific City, just minutes from the beach, Caring Cabin is the first of its kind in the western U.S.

The four-bedroom $1.5 million home is available only through the CCA at no cost to families of children with cancer or other terminal illnesses.

"It can’t cost anything. These families’ resources are all tied up. It has to be free," Carey says adamantly.

Five years in the making, Caring Cabin required a lot of money to make the dream a reality. More than $130,000 in the Carey family name came from the communities of La Grande, where Will grew up, and Pendleton, where Julia worked as a special education teacher.

In fact, so much money was raised in Jack’s name, the entire living room of Caring Cabin was dedicated to him. Jack’s family traveled to Pacific City in August for the dedication ceremony.

She wants the word out that this place is available through the CCA to families who need it families who want the chance to have one last vacation and make some happy memories.

Though the house is also equipped to meet medical needs, the design team has taken great pains to downplay and outright hide hospital equipment.

"Everywhere you look is another delightful surprise for a child. Games, toys you name it. The rooms are beautifully decorated. The children’s (are) colorful and joyful. Every detail has been thought of the kitchen is fully stocked," Carey says. "Even the women of Pacific City have made and donated 300 afghans so every child can have one. And they make sure there are fresh, warm cookies waiting when each family arrives."

To find out more about Caring Cabin, go to www.ChildrensCancerAssociation.org .