Jabree needs your help

by Ericka McDonald

I’m in desperate need for someone in the community to donate a reliable car to my family. I’m a single mother with three children, ages 17, 13 and 3 years old. My 3-year-old son Jabree was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia on Jan. 21, 2008, at the tender age of 2.

He’s being treated with chemotherapy in the Oncology Department at Children’s Hospital Research Center in Oakland. Since Jabree’s diagnosis, he has had a bone marrow transplant and many lumbar punctures for his chemo treatment and blood transfusions.

Jabree also has many unexpected emergency room visits. In addition, I have to draw blood from Jabree weekly and drive it to Quest Laboratory. Jabree’s blood has to be drawn in order to find out his blood count and to determine his immune system levels.

Lastly, Jabree’s chemotherapy treatment will continue until 2011. After Jabree’s treatment in 2011, he will still be monitored regularly.

When Jabree is admitted to the hospital for an overnight stay or sometimes more I need transportation to go back and forth from the hospital to home to assist my other children. Also when Jabree has out-patient surgery he cannot get on public transportation because of germs and his fragile immune system.

In closing, I hope that someone reading this letter can help Jabree and his family in a time when we have no other resources. May God bless you and thank you for your time and help. A donation in any amount can be made at Chase Bank to Account No. 9626656106. If you can help or would like more information, please call me at (510) 926-5501.