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Each and every day, the Children’s Cancer and Blood
Foundation strives to make the future brighter for hundreds
of children afflicted with rare blood diseases. Recently,
one of those patients, through an incredible act of kindness
and generosity, made our future brighter. Here is her story…
Alana (left) and friends.
Alana is a beautiful, bubbly, 13-year-old girl who has been
living with ITP for the past four years. Originally diagnosed
by her family doctor in Illinois, Alana’s family traveled
to New York to meet with ITP expert, Dr. James Bussel, to
gather additional information. Dr. Bussel and his staff at
the CCBF Clinic evaluated Alana’s condition and developed
a treatment plan…one that allowed them to work in partnership
with her doctors back home.
It has been a roller coaster ride, but for the past year
or so her condition has stabilized. With help from CCBF doctors
and an excellent medical team in Illinois, Alana was able
to stay at home and continue to do the things normal teenagers
do…including working towards her Bat Mitzvah.
This Jewish custom is a symbolic rite of passage from childhood
into adulthood. As part of the process, young people often
must perform a “Mitzvah”, or good deed, as a
way of fully understanding their social and civic responsibility.
There are no guidelines…only a person’s desire
to give something back to their community can help them decide
what their Mitzvah should be.
For Alana, the decision was simple. She wanted to help others
with ITP. In order to do this, she asked each of her friends,
family members and guests to make a donation on behalf of
ITP research instead of giving her a customary Bat Mitzvah
gift. Her parents reminded her that she did not have to be
entirely selfless in order to fulfill her obligation…she
could donate a portion of her gifts instead.
Her answer to this was simple, and straightforward. All
of the money had to go to research…”because I
will benefit directly if there is a cure for ITP one day.”
In support of Alana’s determination, friends
and family have raised $9,391 for CCBF and $2,457 for the
Platelet Disorder Support Association…a grand total
of $11,848!
It is an incredible story of how one person can rally the
spirit of many to help make a difference!
CCBF thanks Alana and all of those people who have donated
on her behalf. Together we can bring the hope of a brighter
future to thousands of children and their families…one
miracle at a time.
Please remember…what makes Alana so special is
not just her generosity, but the wisdom to understand the
potential of that gift. You don’t need to know her
to share in this “Mitzvah”.
Please click here to
make a donation to the ITP Center at CCBF
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