I need a favor...(NON TTC RELATED)

As some of you may know, a good friend of mine has a little boy who was born in June 2008. Joey has a rare blood disease called Langerhan’s Cell Histiocytosis. It is a disease that isn’t cancer, but acts like cancer and it treated like cancer. Joey has spent most of his short life receiving chemo. Joey’s illness has inspired his older brother David. David is 7 and has made it his goal to bring smiles to the faces of children on the Oncology Ward. He has started a project he calls “Operation Stuff It.” For this he is collecting brand new stuffed animals to give to the kids. The “stuffies” as he calls them must have tags still on them to prove they are new. The kids receiving these are on chemo and do not have an immune system right now. I’m telling you all this in hopes that you can find it in your heart to help out. A stuffed animal only costs a couple of dollars and will really help brighten up their day. Here is the link to Operation Stuff It: http://operationstuffit.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2009-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&updated-max=2010-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=3

Also, back in June after learning that Joey may go on to need a bone marrow transplant (as some LCH kids do), I registered to be a donor with www.bethematch.org Bone marrow donation has come a long way and most of the time it is as simple as donating blood and is a FREE process for the donor. Usually the cost of registering is $52. (It costs them $100 to add somebody to the registry.) However, they have a special event going on. From now through the end of 2009, there is absolutely no cost to join. This means you can join the registry for free. I ask that each of you take a moment to consider joining the registry. If you join today, and decide later that you cannot donate, that is ok, they cannot/will not make you. It is a free and selfless thing to do. Please, consider taking a few moments of your time to register to save someone’s life.

Also, even if you are unable to help, please take a moment to pass this to your friends and loved ones. Maybe they can help.

Thank you,
Augie Grabenstein