Spirits were high at Pancho’s Restaurant on Wednesday August 17th as friends, family and visitors gathered to show their support for Shanna Bombard. Six lively rounds of Bingo were played in order to raise funds for Shanna’s cancer treatment. By 9 pm more than 60 people had showed up to play. Businesses from the Nosara district showed their support by donating prizes including surf lessons, fishing expeditions and quad rentals. Despite the list of great prizes it was evident that those in attendance were far more interested in showing support for the much loved couple, Shanna and Ryan.

“I am more than happy to come out and support Shanna, I saw her recently and her spirits are high,” said David Vletas, a friend of the couple. “I think everyone is staying positive, she is young and strong, but this type of thing makes you realize life is fleeting, and you have to really live in each moment.”

Shanna, who recently turned 30, was diagnosed with Lymphoma. Her Costa Rican health insurance has declined coverage of her treatment on the grounds that the condition was pre-existing. Shanna received the diagnosis more than three years ago and has spent this time fighting the disease holistically.

For two years she was able to maintain good health with the alternative treatments. When Shanna became pregnant she discontinued the holistic remedies as a precaution. After giving birth to her son, Hunter Ker-Bombard, Shanna’s health began to deteriorate.

Shanna now has a significant growth on her neck. A biopsy of the growth was conducted last week, the family awaits the results which will determine the severity and stage of her cancer.

More Community News

The Community of Nosara pitches in to make Santa Marta a Blue Flag School

School is out on the weekends, but this Saturday August 20 the campus at Santa Marta’s elementary school was alive with a flurry of activity. More than 100 people pitched in to help kick off the school’s ecological transformation. The event was part of the Adopt a Blue Flag School project spearheaded by Del Mar Academy’s Jessica Sheffield who is in charge of the schools ecological initiatives.

Jacob Biopsy Revealed Terminal Brain Tumor
Family maintain hopes for future treatments

After weeks of agonizing anticipation Jacob Cameron and his Family have been given an answer. The growth found on the five-year-old’s brain stem was diagnosed as a diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma tumor.

Special Profile Mother's Day
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Respect is key to contentment for Nicoyan mother of four generations

Simona Villegas Cortez is a mother to the superlative degree. She gave birth twelve times (six sons and six daughters) and has lived to see the birth of thirty grandchildren, nineteen great-grandchildren and, last August, the birth of her first great-great-grandchild. Simona is content and proud to be the matriarch of such a large family because they all respect her and each other.

Fishing to Survive

It is 6 a.m. on a gloomy Pelada morning. Eliecer Lopez and Alejandro Mejia are trying to pull Chaday, their boat, into the ocean. Her old, blue body is having a hard time moving across the sand. After a few tries, finally she is by the water. Waves are slowly starting to hit her, yet they are not strong enough to embrace her.

Presidential House Responds –
Nosareños Peaceful March Cancelled

The peaceful march that was going to take place on July 25th in Nicoya was cancelled because, according to Marcos Avila, Nosara syndic, President Laura Chinchilla responded immediately to a letter sent at the end of the month of June by various local Development Associations.