Mailbag: Denise Writes: The Story of Jared

Dear Friends,



I want to tell you about a very courageous friend of Ian's whose name is Jared. Jared has been battling leukemia since the end of 2004, when both boys were in Kindergarten. During these past three years, Jared has been in & out of the hospital too many times to count, undergone numerous rounds of chemo, & received gallons of platelets & blood transfusions. At the beginning of 2007, tests showed that his body was responding increasingly well. If his cancer went into remission, he would then be able to have a bone marrow transplant, which was scheduled for November 23rd, 2007 the day after Thanksgiving. The doctors were hopeful that the possible donors presented good matches.



Then in mid-July everything came to an abrupt end when his bone biopsy came back showing that his white blood cell count was fewer than 100. The cancer had returned with a vengeance. Since then he has had another block of chemo, with no success. His body did not respond. The bone marrow transplant was cancelled. The doctors could not do anything else for this brave child.



Jared came home the day before Thanksgiving. Hospice has been involved. It could be any time within days to weeks before the cancer takes over his body & he dies. He is on lots of pain medication & steroids, but still he hurts. His parents Kim & Scott & his younger sister, Sara, have shown unbelievable courage in the face of this horrific nightmare that has overtaken Jared’s body.



The outpouring of love from family, friends, & from people he’s never met is overwhelming. People from all over the world have logged onto the website the family has kept & written words of hope & encouragement.



http://www.caringbridge.org/wi/jared_fredrickson/index.htm



Here in Evansville, JC McKenna Middle School students heard about Jared & remembered the true story of Sadako Sasaki, who lived in Hiroshima, Japan. Sadako, who also had leukemia, died at age 12 after being exposed ten years earlier to radiation from the atomic bomb. While she was in the hospital, Sadako tried to fold 1000 paper cranes. She believed the legend that said those who fold 1000 paper cranes would have a wish granted. Sadly, she died having folded only 644 cranes. After her death, her friends folded the remainder. The middle school students at JC McKenna were so greatly inspired, they have voluntarily undertaken the momentous task of folding 1000 paper cranes.



I am now asking for your help. Please:



v Pray for a miracle.



v Log onto the Caring Bridge website & send Jared, Kim, Scott, & Sara a message of hope.



v Fold cranes. It’s actually very easy. For instructions, log onto http://www.sadako.com/fold/folding.html



v Send your cranes to Jared Fredrickson, 7839 North Robert Drive, Evansville, WI 53536-1117



v And send this email to everyone in your address book.



This year for Christmas I am not asking for world peace, but a miracle for Jared. Please join me.



Sincerely,



Denise