LA Times: They're living with cancer and little else

[marmar]

They're living with cancer and little else

The Himmels are used to the hard life, living in an SUV while trying to get back on their feet. When Destiny, 16, was diagnosed with leukemia, their prospects went from bad to miserable.

Steve Lopez
December 21, 2008


So you think you've got it bad this holiday season? Here's a story that will put things in perspective for you, no matter how grim your job prospects or how invisible your shrinking retirement fund.

The other day, at their invitation, I met Kerry Himmel, an unemployed truck driver, and her 16-year-old daughter, Destiny, at a McDonald's on Ventura Boulevard in the San Fernando Valley.

For about two years, mother and daughter have been anchored in that McDonald's parking lot, living in their Ford Explorer and avoiding eviction by moving now and then to a nearby Ralphs parking lot. They favor the McDonald's, though, because there's a bathroom with an outdoor entrance.

As if that weren't miserable enough, the situation got much, much worse in April.

"Whenever I stood up, things started getting blurry for a second," said Destiny.

"You'd have to brace yourself," her mother added.

Then Destiny was hit with headaches that went from bad to excruciating. Late one night, Kerry rushed her daughter to the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center emergency room in Woodland Hills, where the diagnosis was devastating. .......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lopez21-2008dec21,0,4554051.column