Attorneys are launching an investigation to find out the cause of an alarmingly high number rare cases of childhood cancer.
Bond Legal is gathering confidential information about those who have children with Ewing Sarcoma, or any other childhood cancers that were detected in their home or regular visits to Ladera Ranch.
According to families affected, at least six children from the community master planned have been diagnosed with cancer since 2013.
The Orange County Heath Care Agency said in a press release that “representatives from the California Cancer Registry and UCI Cancer Center met with the Agricultural Commissioner’s Office of Orange County after the County Health Officer began outreach to address community concerns in the early part of this year.”
The group decided to update the cancer statistics. The findings from this analysis, as soon as the results are ready, will be provided to the County Health Officer in the coming weeks.
According to the American Cancer Society, only 200-240 kids and teens are affected by this rare cancer each year.
Candice Bond of Bond Legal, the managing partner, said: “The concentration in one community of such cases is very troubling for those living there, particularly.”
Orange County Health Care Agency was also contacted by The Post for a comment. Residents claim that the Orange County Health Care Agency has confirmed it will investigate the issue.
Parents whose children have been diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma, Osteosarcoma leukemia lymphoma and other rare childhood cancers, or who frequently visit Ladera Ranch or attend local schools, church, sports, or camps, are asked to provide information.
Families are also asked to provide information on possible pesticide, herbicide, soil, water or construction material contamination, or any other potential environmental hazards.
Bond stated that “Families should be informed about the possible exposures their children have had.” When rare cancers occur in clusters it is important to examine every possible environmental factor, no matter how trivial.
Bond Legal pointed out that a number of cancer diagnoses do not prove that an exposure is responsible for the illness. Any legal claim would need reliable medical, scientific and factual proof.
According to the firm, its investigation will examine past pesticides and herbicides, landscape and pest control practices, soil conditions and groundwater levels, previous agricultural land use, imported fill material, schools, parks, commercial activities nearby and public records.
California Department of Public Health’s California Cancer Registry compares the number of cancer cases in one community with those expected for a similar-sized population, based on cancer rates statewide and age categories.
The department stated that “an apparent increase within a limited area is not enough to establish a cluster or a cause in common.”
Parents in the community have been questioning whether the extensive use of pesticides and herbicides throughout the entire 4,000-acre area could be the cause.
Residents spent several months documenting the landscaping practices, requesting more transparency from officials and researching the public records.
Jackie French, an attorney and resident of Ladera Ranch who spoke to The California Post previously, said that the records showed numerous herbicides and pesticides being applied throughout the community. This led residents to demand a switch to organic landscaping.
No direct link has yet been proven between exposure to pesticides and childhood cancers such as Ewing Sarcoma.
The public health authorities did not identify a particular environmental cause and the officials didn’t link Ladera Ranch landscaping practices with reported illnesses.
A tragedy in a family has been the focus of a community-wide campaign to find answers.
Brody Matteson, aged 17, was diagnosed in August 2024 with Ewing Sarcoma. He developed acute myeloid lymphoma as a side effect of his treatment. Brody Matteson died on March 22, 2024.
Megan Matteson’s mother posted in the community group on Facebook after his death to ask if other families from around had been diagnosed with cancer. This helped reignite concern among local residents, who felt that these cases warranted further investigations.
State legislators have also taken note of the issue.
After learning about the reports, Assemblywoman Kate Sanchez has said that she will be working with local and state agencies.
Sanchez stated in a press release that “I, like many others have been reading the reports about cancer cases at Ladera Ranch as well as the concern expressed by the families regarding pesticides in the community.”
These reports concern me as a mother and your Assemblywoman. “My heart goes out to every affected family.”
Sanchez stated that her office “actively gathers information and engages with appropriate state and locally agencies and reviews what is already known.”
She said that if there were unanswered issues, these would be resolved through a transparent and science-based approach.
The Republican legislator pledged to keep advocating “a comprehensive review of all available information, an open dialogue with the community and full transparency by every involved entity.”
Sanchez said, “I will pursue any changes that are necessary to improve the safety of our neighborhoods.” The health and safety our children should always be the priority.
Experts in environmental health have said that the concern deserves careful consideration, even if no direct connection has yet to be established.
Bruce Blumberg is an expert in environmental health at the University of California Irvine. He told The California Post previously that local communities should use pesticides as little as possible.
Blumberg stated, “I would strongly advocate for the elimination of pesticides if I was a parent in this area.” In my opinion it’s unreasonable to put people at risk for cosmetic weeding and removal of unwanted vegetation.
Blumberg pointed out that many Californian cities had already implemented organic landscape management and that it was important to use safer options whenever possible.
The management company that oversees the Ladera Ranch unincorporated area has announced it will establish an advisory group to examine its landscaping maintenance practices in order to identify areas for improvement.
As part of its commitment to community involvement and transparency, the Board directed staff to form an advisory group comprised of homeowners and board members as well as staff and landscape professionals. Ladera Ranch Maintenance Corporation, (LARMAC), told The Post that the committee would review the landscape maintenance practices and evaluate areas for improvement. It will also make recommendations to the Board.
They added that “we understand why residents seek answers and we acknowledge the concerns generated by recent media coverage in our community.” “We are not aware of a determination made by these agencies which identified a specific environment cause or linked the Association’s landscaping management practices to this illness.”

Topline
In Michigan, the number of cases is rapidly increasing. More than 700 new cases were reported Tuesday, bringing the total to over 3,300.
The Key Facts
What is the cause of this outbreak?
The cause of this outbreak is still unknown, but preliminary results from Michigan’s Health Department suggest that “lettuce and salad greens” could be to blame. Health officials have said that the investigation continues and other foods are not yet ruled out. Early information indicates that lettuce is a product which is frequently mentioned during investigations, said Michigan’s chief executive medical officer Natasha Bagdasarian.
The CDC has loosened its monitoring of Cyclospora.
One year ago, the CDC had removed cyclospora’s name from a list pathogens that were required to be tracked under its Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network. The surveillance program is active in ten states, including New York. However, neither Michigan or Ohio participate. A CDC spokesperson said at the time that the program “would narrow its focus on Salmonella and E. coli producing Shiga toxin” in order to “allow FoodNet to staff to prioritise core activities”. Some experts expressed concerns about the possibility of a reduction in the surveillance program making it more difficult to determine whether certain cases of foodborne disease are increasing. NBC News reported that Dr. J. Glenn Morris of the Emerging pathogens Institute of the University of Florida, who was instrumental in creating the CDC’s surveillance system for foodborne diseases, said the CDC “is backing off one of its best surveillance systems”.
How does cyclosporiasis spread?
The CDC states that cyclosporiasis, a gastrointestinal disorder caused by the microscopically small parasite cyclospora. Infection can occur when people eat or drink contaminated water or food. It is not possible to spread the disease directly from one person to another. It can take up to a week for the symptoms to appear after ingesting a parasite. Experts describe diarrhea as “explosive” and watery. Other symptoms include weight loss, loss of appetite and cramping. Experts recommend that you follow basic hygiene practices to prevent an infection. This includes washing your hands and thoroughly rinsing fruit and vegetables.
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Recent weeks have seen headlines about a parasite that causes “explosive diarrhoea” causing concern. The parasite is spread by contaminated foods and has sickened thousands of people across the United States.
This intestinal infection caused by the parasite cyclospora is not new, and it usually increases in summer. NBC News reported that the number of cases in multiple states is higher than usual for this season. This includes Michigan where more than half of all U.S. cases were reported.
Kali Kniel Ph.D. is a professor of food microbiology at University of Delaware. She told TODAY.com that the rapid increase and large number of cases are unusual.
Past outbreaks of the parasite have been linked with raw fruits and vegetables. What’s causing the recent spike? And is it safe to eat fresh fruit and vegetables in summer?
The health officials continue to investigate a possible source.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services released a press release on Monday stating that early tests point towards lettuce and salad greens being a possible culprit for the outbreak in Michigan, although it couldn’t completely rule out any other food.
NBC News reported that it’s unclear if outbreaks occurring in various states are linked.
What is the “Diarrhea parasite”?
Cyclosporiasis results from Cyclospora cayetanensis – a parasite that is carried by human feces. Kniel says that people can become infected when they consume food or drink contaminated by particles of human feces.
Ingesting cyclospora can cause severe stomach upset. According to the CDC, cyclosporiasis most commonly manifests as sudden watery diarrhea that can last for several weeks.
In a segment on July 14, NBC’s Dr. John Torres, a medical expert, said: “If you have ever experienced stomach flu, or food poisoning… this is what we are talking about. But people say it’s even worse.”
Kniel says that cyclosporiasis does not usually pose a life-threatening threat and most healthy individuals recover by themselves. Treatment with combination antibiotics is very effective.
Kniel says that it can take up to 2 weeks for the parasite to become infective after being shed from the stool. This makes the spread of the disease between people highly unlikely.
Parasites can enter produce when it is grown on soil contaminated by feces or washed in water that contains feces. Kniel says that fresh fruits and vegetables can be the culprits.
Cyclosporiasis is on the rise in which countries?
According to TODAY.com, NBC News and state health departments that confirmed the reports on July 14, there were approximately 5,000 cyclosporiasis cases reported across more than 30 different states.
The CDC also confirmed 843 cyclosporiasis reports and 86 cases of hospitalization since May 1st, which is regarded as the beginning of the cyclosporiasis seasons in the U.S.
Michigan has been hit hardest. According to the MDHHS, as of July 14 the state had reported 3,309 cases of cyclosporiasis and 44 hospitalizations.
Ohio, New York and North Carolina are all experiencing a surge in cases.
The CDC said that it is unclear if the clusters of cases are linked.
TODAY.com reports that there may be several unrelated outbreaks occurring at once, according to Donald Schaffner Ph.D. Professor of Food Microbiology at Rutgers University’s Department of Food Science.
According to the CDC, the true number of infections with cyclospora in the U.S. may be higher than what is currently reported. According to the CDC, many people with diarrhea don’t go see a doctor and aren’t tested for cyclospora.
What is the cause of Cyclospora cases?
It is not known what caused the recent outbreaks of cyclosporiasis. The CDC and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are investigating a possible source.
The Michigan Department of Health released a press release on July 13 that pointed to “lettuce and salad greens” (as a possible source) as the cause. They did stress that other food products could not be ruled out. The source has not been determined to be a specific produce type, supplier or grower.
Michigan is the only state that has experienced these early results. MDHSS shared “lettuce specific safety measures” with people in counties affected.
The Michigan outbreak may be linked to recent increases in cases reported in other states.
Trevor Suslow is an expert in food safety at the University of California Davis. He told TODAY.com that there were multiple pathways through which people could become infected.
In the past, cyclosporiasis outbreaks have occurred in the U.S. and been associated with contaminated lettuce, cilantro, raspberries, and basil.
Experts emphasize, however, that food may not be the sole culprit. Water could also play a role. For example, water contaminated by feces could be used as an irrigating solution for crops.
The surges in Michigan and Ohio are occurring along the Lake Erie shoreline. The geographical clustering of these cases makes me think that this is more of a waterborne than foodborne outbreak.
In a press release, Michigan officials said that there is “no evidence” linking the outbreak to recreational water activities. They also stated that the “exposure of contaminated produce” was being looked at as a main source.
Tracking Cyclospora Outbreaks
Experts in food safety tell TODAY.com that Cyclospora can be difficult to detect.
Torres explained that the incubation time is much longer than for most other types of food poisoning.
According to Schaffner, symptoms may take 10 to 14 days to appear. Confirming a diagnosis by testing, then scheduling an interview with an expert epidemiologist, to conduct an investigation, can also require a few weeks. The person may not remember the food or drink that caused their symptoms by that time.
Dianna Blau is the acting head of the CDC’s Parasitic Disease Branch. She told NBC News that only a tiny portion of parasitic disease cases are traced to a specific food.
Schaffner also points out that the CDC foodborne surveillance system made testing for cyclospora an optional test in July 2025. This could have an impact on the response.
What should you avoid?
It is impossible to protect yourself from cyclosporiasis by avoiding food or water that could be contaminated. Because no source can be identified definitively, there is no way to determine which products to avoid. However, experts warn people to not panic.
According to Schaffner, “nearly all fresh fruit and vegetables you buy today on the market are not associated with this outbreak and are no more likely to make people sick because of it.”
There’s currently no need to avoid raw fruits and vegetables, particularly during the peak season.
Schaffner says, “We all know (fresh produce) is a part of healthy eating, so I don’t intend to discourage anyone from doing that.” He still plans on enjoying his favorite fruits and vegetables this summer.
The state’s health department has issued the following recommendations for residents of one of Michigan’s affected counties:
Buy whole lettuce heads instead of packaged and pre-washed salad greens.
Remove the two or three outermost layers of leaves.
The inner leaves can be washed with running, clean water.
Cooking your greens at 158 degrees F is the best temperature to use, as washing them won’t kill parasites.
Cylospora: How to prevent it
Kniel says that there are many ways in which you can be proactive.
You can protect yourself by cooking food at least to 158° Fahrenheit. It’s possible to eliminate cyclospora by freezing food, but this is not guaranteed.
Suslow says that washing produce well can help reduce foodborne illnesses, but won’t completely eliminate them.
The state health departments offer a few additional tips for preventing cyclospora infections:
Hands should be washed thoroughly with hot soapy water after touching raw products.
Under running, clean water, scrub all fruits and vegetables. Use no soap.
If possible, remove the outer leaf layer or peel.
Before eating, remove any damaged parts of the produce by peeling or cutting them off.
Kniel says that people with weak immune systems should take extra care and consult their doctors about foodborne illnesses.
Kniel says, “We’re seeing a lot of hospitalizations. If you get sick, hydration and clinical care are important because these can be treated.”
Contact your doctor if you experience symptoms.

One day, doctors may add cannabis oil to their dementia toolkit. Researchers reported on the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference that in a trial of 120 patients with dementia who received a THC/CBD for 12 weeks, 90% showed improved agitation compared to less than 25% of people given a placebo. According to the New York Times, the custom-made oil was taken twice daily and contained low dose THC (two milligrams) and high dose CBD (one hundred milligrams) per milliliter. It did not appear to produce a “high” or cause major safety issues beyond those typical of very sick patients.
The findings of the Phase 2 study are still preliminary, experts say. They have not yet been peer reviewed or published and the formula isn’t FDA approved. One clinician who was not involved in the study said that the findings were “very robust”. They could be significant for treating a condition that is currently treated with antipsychotics and opioids. These drugs can cause death or heavy sedation. CBD has also been linked to decreased inflammation among Alzheimer’s sufferers in previous studies.
Experts warn families against experimenting with marijuana from dispensaries and recommend that any treatment involving cannabinoids for anxiety should be prescribed by a medical professional and closely monitored. Brigid Reynolds, a Georgetown University researcher and one of the presenters in this study, says that commercially or over-the-counter THC or CBD products can vary greatly in composition, quality and dosage, which could make them ineffective or harmful.
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Elizabeth Wehrle was aware that four organs would be transplanted into her body before she underwent surgery.
She did not know at the time that this quadruple organ transplant was possibly the first in the nation, performed on someone who already had had a lung transplant.
Wehrle of Montezuma in Iowa said, “I am incredibly grateful they took a chance on me. But I’m very happy that I did not know I was the only one.”
According to Northwestern University, which cited information obtained from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, Wehrle was the first person known to have received a second kidney, liver and donor lungs after the body had rejected the lungs it received in an earlier transplant. Her liver and kidneys were also damaged due to cystic fibrosis.
Wehrle had a previous lung transplant, which made her quadruple organ transplant incredibly difficult. According to Northwestern doctors, a lung transplant may leave dense scars or distort the natural anatomy of a patient, which makes a second transplant more difficult than a previous one.
The Northwestern Medicine Comprehensive Transplant Center’s director, Dr. Satish Naidi, said, “This young woman had few options, she had no other place to turn, so we used the power of transplantation to help save her.”
Wehrle, then 11 years old was diagnosed with cystic Fibrosis. This genetic condition can cause damage to the lungs, and even other organs. The doctors were able keep her illness under control up until the end of 2015. She underwent lung transplantation in Iowa, USA, in 2017.
After the transplant, Wehrle went back to living her life as usual — she raised her toddler son at that time and ran a massage studio.
In January, her health took a drastic turn when she developed pneumonia. After spending about three weeks at the Iowa hospital, she returned home. She got worse during the time she spent at home. She had lost over 30 pounds within a matter of weeks. Her breathing was difficult and she needed assistance with everyday tasks like dressing.
In February she was again in hospital. She said that at one time she was unresponsive and she had to be intubated. Later, she was put on ECMO, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, a machine which provides life support.
She was mostly unconscious during that period. She said that her parents decided to wake her up when they realized she would need another transplant.
She knew it would be difficult, having already undergone a lung-transplant. She had previously said she didn’t want it to happen again. Her parents asked her to decide whether she wanted to continue.
Wehrle stated, “It’s hard to think about going through this all the first time and having to do it again when you have four other organs in place of the lungs.” “But I’ve got an 11-year old son. “But I have an 11-year-old son.”
She said, “At least I would have fought if I had not made it through surgery.” There was no choice for me.”
The surgery was performed in two phases. She was transported to Northwestern by helicopter. Wehrle’s severe rejection made a second lung transplant even harder, according to Dr. Ankit Bharat, chief of thoracic and executive director at Northwestern University Canning Thoracic Institute.
Bharat stated that it is technically difficult to perform second lung transplants in patients who have such severe rejection. The patients also are very sick.
In the first step, the surgeons separated the rejected lungs and their supporting structures in order to facilitate the removal.
Wehrle then remained under general anesthesia and was placed on a ventilator and ECMO for several days, her chest being left open.
The second phase of the surgery involved placing the new lungs in her body. This was followed by the liver and kidney. It took approximately eight hours. To keep the liver and kidney alive during lung transplant, they were kept in perfusion machines.
Wehrle says she doesn’t know the identity of this donor.
Wehrle has a hazy memory about waking up and discovering that surgery had been completed. Wehrle recalls that once the initial fog lifted, he felt relieved.
Wehrle recalled thinking, “I am here and still get to run my company and raise my son.” “I get my life back.”
Wehrle spent a few weeks in Northwestern after the transplant, before moving on to Shirley Ryan AbilityLab.
Her mom and father have been helping her stay in Chicago so that she can be near Northwestern to attend follow-up appointments and receive care. In June her son spent two weeks with her. They went on a tour of the Shedd Aquarium, and rode the Centennial Wheel in Navy Pier. She now walks three to four mile a day.
Wehrle looks forward to returning home this week to celebrate her belated birthday with her child and to see her cats again after months.
Wehrle expressed her gratitude to the Northwestern team, doctors and medical staff for giving him the chance and allowing him to fight his way back.
Northwestern doctors hope that the operation will open doors to more patients who have similar complex cases.
Nadig stated that the amount of coordination required to accomplish this is staggering. “… This gives other people in the world hope that it can be done.”