An Anmore boy and his family are thanking their neighbours and the Port Moody soccer community for participating in a recent blood donor drive.
Now, the Barnes family hopes young men between the ages of 17 and 35 will step forward for an even greater act of charity: donating blood marrow.
Jonathan, 11, has myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and monosomy 7 that will lead to an aggressive form of leukemia unless he can get a transplant of healthy bone marrow from a young male, the best type of donor for a match.
His brother, Leo, who would have been a good match, also has MDS, although without monosomy 7, and so the family is potentially looking for donors for both children.
Mariam Barnes said the family has been riding a "rollercoaster" of emotions since Jonathan was diagnosed with the rare condition and Leo was found to have the disease as well.
She said the efforts of Port Moody Soccer Club raised the family's spirits and they are hopeful a donor will be found so Jonathan can get a transplant by Christmas.
"Thankful," is how Jonathan described his feelings after friends and supporters took part in a recent blood drive at Cornerstone Community Church on Noons Creek Drive.
Jonathan, who played soccer with the PoMo Panthers and attends Moody middle school, will need daily transfusions when he undergoes a bone marrow transplant. Collecting blood now, although it won't be used specifically by Jonathan, is a way to pay it forward.
To express his thanks, Jonathan made a card and he hopes more people will come out for future blood drives in the region (see sidebar).
Appointments to donate blood can be made at 1-888-2DONATE and pledges can be made "In Honour of Jonathan" and quoting the Partners for Life Community of Anmore #THECO13395.
To find out more about donating bone marrow, visit the One match Stem Cell and Marrow Network at www.blood.ca.
Upcoming Tri-City blood drives:
PORT MOODY
Community of Anmore blood drive, Nov. 29, 1 to 8 p.m., Cornerstone Community Church, 1415 Noons Creek Dr.
COQUITLAM
Nov. 4, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Place Maillardville community centre, 1200 Cartier Ave.;
Nov. 8, 1 to 8 p.m., Mundy Park Christian Fellowship, 2600 Austin Ave.;
Nov. 16, noon to 7 p.m., Coquitlam Christian Centre, 2665 Runnel Dr.
PORT COQUITLAM
Nov. 5, 1 to 8 p.m. (note: the location for this date may change), Northside Church, Grace Campus, 2606 Kingsway Ave.
