Thurs. Dec. 15th
Please say a prayer for 16 yr old B+ Hero, Miranda Ram-Nolte, who starts her second battle against cancer tomorrow with the resumption of chemotherapy at A.I duPont Hospital in Wilmington, DE.
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/mirandaramnolte
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Featured Families of the Week
I want to get back to sharing stories with you of the families that you help through The B+ Foundation Family Assistance Program.
First, I’d like to introduce you to 12 year old, Isabella. Isabella is battling leukemia and is currently post bone marrow transplant (BMT). Isabella and her mother stayed in Portland, OR for 7 months while she was being treated. Dad and the rest of the family stayed behind at their home 300 miles away. Needless to say, Mom left her job for the 7 months that she cared for Isabella in Portland. As an out-patient, the family now travels 600 miles roundtrip to Portland once or twice a week. As you can see, childhood cancer splits families up. And, this family is fortunate to have 2 parents in the household. Not only does childhood cancer result in less money coming in and significant incremental expenses going out, but it also introduces numerous challenges to the family dynamic. Your Foundation is helping Isabella’s family cover some of the gas costs of making the 600 mile roundrip to the hospital.
Also 12 years old, Seth is a South Dakota boy battling AML (the type of leukemia that my son had). The family lives 566 miles (one way) away from the hospital. Seth has had 2 BMTs and his body is trying hard to get the upper hand on the leukemia. Mom quit her job to be with Seth at the hospital and Dad drives the 566 miles each way to the hospital every other weekend to be with Seth and Mom. The family is falling behind on bills without Mom’s income and they are currently WITHOUT heat. The forecast for their town this evening is scattered flurries and 18 degrees. Once again, because of you, The B+ Foundation is turning the heat back on for this family.
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Please keep our B+ families in mind as you deal with the ‘stress’ of the holidays. If you don’t get that gift you’re hoping for, that parking space at the mall, the white Christmas, or you’re dealing with the frustration of holiday traffic or which side of the family to visit and for how long….it’s not so bad. Living Like Andrew means keeping your life in perspective. It could always be worse…
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B+
Ali & Andrew’s Dad