This was posted in The Shreveport Times yesterday. Even though we have never met this precious little boy or his family,they have become a special part of our thoughts and prayers on a daily basis.
Parents of a 4-month-old Shreveport leukemia patient have learned he has a rare blood trait and are using every means possible to find their son a bone marrow match — even if it means writing Oprah Winfrey. They want you to write, too.Family, friends and a Web site, http://www.ethanpowell.com/ are helping to spread the word.
"Doctors say there is only one in about 2 million people with this trait so we're trying to get that many people to get tested by May 27," said Larry Powell, grandfather of Ethan Powell who is currently in Memphis, Tenn., undergoing chemotherapy at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. "If we don't find a better match Ethan's father will be matched and he only matches five of the 10 markers doctors are looking at."The prospect of getting 2 million people tested is daunting, but not if the word is spread to a national audience. That's where Oprah comes in, said the family.Ethan's parents, Becky and Ben Powell, have posted an address for Oprah's show and a pre-written letter on the Web site that the public can print and sign. The Powells have kept a diary of daily updates at the Web site since their son was diagnosed two months ago. The site has now gotten 353,211 hits.The family would also like to encourage businesses, churches and schools to set up a bone marrow testing site at their location.Anyone interested in setting up a testing site can send a request for information to marrowforethan@yahoo.com.Debbie Pickett doesn't know the family personally but when she learned of Ethan's illness she wanted to help."The story just grabbed me," said Pickett, an insurance agent for Executive Financial Group in Shreveport, who has put her letter to Oprah in the mail. "I'm asking people I work with to do the same and trying to get Airline High School (Pickett's alma mater) to get involved. It's a very touching story."Ethan's prognosis is not good, but Powell said his grandson is doing well with his treatment."If you go to the Web site there are videos of Ethan cooing, laughing and smiling. Bless his heart, he doesn't know he's sick," Powell said. "He's taking chemo everyday by mouth or an IV. But the proof in the pudding will be May 27 when his bone marrow is taken and replaced with a donor's bone marrow. Then we'll be praying his new marrow will start producing leukemia free blood."
Parents of a 4-month-old Shreveport leukemia patient have learned he has a rare blood trait and are using every means possible to find their son a bone marrow match — even if it means writing Oprah Winfrey. They want you to write, too.Family, friends and a Web site, http://www.ethanpowell.com/ are helping to spread the word.
"Doctors say there is only one in about 2 million people with this trait so we're trying to get that many people to get tested by May 27," said Larry Powell, grandfather of Ethan Powell who is currently in Memphis, Tenn., undergoing chemotherapy at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. "If we don't find a better match Ethan's father will be matched and he only matches five of the 10 markers doctors are looking at."The prospect of getting 2 million people tested is daunting, but not if the word is spread to a national audience. That's where Oprah comes in, said the family.Ethan's parents, Becky and Ben Powell, have posted an address for Oprah's show and a pre-written letter on the Web site that the public can print and sign. The Powells have kept a diary of daily updates at the Web site since their son was diagnosed two months ago. The site has now gotten 353,211 hits.The family would also like to encourage businesses, churches and schools to set up a bone marrow testing site at their location.Anyone interested in setting up a testing site can send a request for information to marrowforethan@yahoo.com.Debbie Pickett doesn't know the family personally but when she learned of Ethan's illness she wanted to help."The story just grabbed me," said Pickett, an insurance agent for Executive Financial Group in Shreveport, who has put her letter to Oprah in the mail. "I'm asking people I work with to do the same and trying to get Airline High School (Pickett's alma mater) to get involved. It's a very touching story."Ethan's prognosis is not good, but Powell said his grandson is doing well with his treatment."If you go to the Web site there are videos of Ethan cooing, laughing and smiling. Bless his heart, he doesn't know he's sick," Powell said. "He's taking chemo everyday by mouth or an IV. But the proof in the pudding will be May 27 when his bone marrow is taken and replaced with a donor's bone marrow. Then we'll be praying his new marrow will start producing leukemia free blood."
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