A Rainbow for "Boom"

A Rainbow For "Boom"

My name is Richard Santoro also known as The Bulb Guy in The Greater Bay Area in San Jose Ca .

A childhood disease,  known as Neuralblastoma, ended our 6 year  8 month  old sons life in June of 1982.  His real name is Richard Joseph Santoro II but his mother, Riza, gave him the nickname "Boom".  He was 2 weeks old.  It stuck. 

Boom didn't know his real name until he was admitted to  Childrens Hosptal At Stanford  with stage 4 Neuralblastoma in 1980.  He was 4 1/2 at the time.  Not knowing his real name, Boom  completly ignored the nurse when she called him "Richard".  Riza  had to tell the nurse he didn't know his real name and only answered to the name Boom. 

The above picture was drawn by "Boom" when he was 5 yrs old at CHAS.  Because we went through the back entrance at Childrens Hospital At Stanford for his kemo,  we did not know the hospital was using his "Rainbow" as the front cover of their brochure.  The brochure is handed out in the "front" of the hospital. 

"Booms Rainbow" caught our eye as we went thru the front door when Boom was re-diagnosed in April of 1982.   We had absolutley no idea they were using it.

It has been 34 years since our son died.  He will always be 6 years old & 8 months to us.  He will always be wearing spider man shoes and be playing  with Matchbox Cars in our minds.
He was a master at building structures with Legos & made us laugh imitating Steve Matin with an arrow through his head.  His reselientcy throughout 28 month of treatments gave my wife & I a perspective on life no parent really wants.  Yet we are greatful for it. 

No parent should have to watch their child die in their arms.  If you can imagine for a moment that the money you donate will keep a parent from watching their child die in their arms,  you will be able to grasp the magnatude of your gift no matter the size.

My goal is to help end this particular childhood cancer by raising as much research money between now and April 3, 2016.  The money will be sent to Saint Judes Hospital which fights this particular childhood cancer on a daily basis.



The Bulb Guy Garden:

The duration of the drive co-includes with my annual Bulb Guy Garden Show.  I have been bulb gardening for 30 years.  I started showing the garden FREE of charge since 2009.  Over the years, the garden has served a pourpose for the community  as something to look forward to in the Spring months.  There is no entrence fee.  There never has and never will be.  This is my gift to community.

This spring  I will put my spring bulb garden to work by asking for small donations prior to the garden show.( The Bulb Guy Garden has been recognaized as the largest private Spring Garden in the USA -50,000 + spring bulbs have been planted one by one sine 1985 by me, The Bulb Guy) .

For each dollar donated a paper cut out tulip will be attached to my garage door  in the shape of an inverted rainbow  called "Boom's Rainbow."  Your name will be written on it.  My wife Riza will do the cutting.  I did the diggin.

The picture of this handsome little guy below is of Boom and I at Disneyland.  At this point he was in full remisssion.  
 

Above is a picture of ther Bulb Guy Garden open every spring to every one.

It is our hope that this becomes an annual event and that others will have their own "Rainbow for Boom" on their garages and kill this disease through research.

All donations will be forwarded to Saint Judes Hospital on April 4th 2016. 
 
On behalf of all kids fighting for their very lives at Saint Judes Hospital we thank you.

Rich & Riza Santoro
The Bulb Guy
Dig hole for bulb..