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Cyndie French ventures into traffic in West Sacramento on March 4, 2006 to ask firefighter John Dorris to bring his fire truck through a benefit car wash to help with family expenses. The fire crew gives a donation but doesn't get the truck washed.…

Cyndie French, campaigns for the American Cancer Society at River City High School in West Sacramento on Feb. 17, 2006. She is at the school to recruit volunteers for the Relay for Life. Cyndie's son, Derek suffers from neuroblastoma, a childhood…

Derek is tearful as Cyndie tries to reason with him at the UC Davis Cancer Center on Feb. 14, 2006. She and Dr. William Hall argue that Derek should have a series of radiation treatments to shrink the tumors spreading throughout his body and…

Realizing her son may never have an opportunity to get his driver’s license, something he’s told her he is anticipating, Cyndie defies the rules and lets 11-year-old Derek drive up and down their street in West Sacramento while sitting on her…

In June 2005, struggling to pay her bills, Cyndie listens to a pitch from her friend and photographer Allison Johnson, left, and agrees to pose for a 1950s-style photo calendar to help raise money for costs related to her son Derek's battle with…

As she seeks volunteers to help with the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, Cyndie parades a photo collage of Derek before students at River City High School in West Sacramento. She also asks for help with a barbecue benefit in her son's honor…

On Feb. 6, one of Derek’s cancer doctors recommends she contact hospice workers. Cyndie doesn’t tell Derek about the conversation, but retreats behind a closed door at home to cry. “I don’t think it’s important to tell him,” she says.…

Derek Madsen, 11, is comforted by his brother Micah Moffe, 17, left, and mom Cyndie French , right, as he gets a tattoo in preparation for radiation therapy for cancer during an orientation in radiation on November 30, 2005 at UC Davis Medical…

Cyndie French, center, intensely watches as nurses prepare her son Derek Madsen, 10, for a tumor removal surgery at UC Davis Medical Center on July 28, 2005. Although Cyndie talked her way into the preparation for the surgery she was not allowed to…

Derek Madsen, 10, taunts his mother playfully as Cyndie tries to coax him down from a wall outside the UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento on July 27, 2005. They are there to admit Derek for cancer surgery the following day. Derek dreads hospitals…