You may have seen today’s front page story about 4-year-old Brock Haarstad of South Kitsap who received a bone marrow transplant in October to treat leukemia. Brock came home in January and will be isolated there a year while his immune system grows.
He and his family are among beneficiaries of the annual “Dance for a Wish: A Western Affair,” to be held Friday at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds and sponsored by the Kitsap County Fair and Stampede. The evening will include dinner, auctions and dancing (see below for more info).
I recently learned of another young SK resident with a serious illness. Wyatt Oyler, 4, has Glanzmann’s Thrombasthenia or GT for short. GT is an extremely rare disorder of the blood, in which the platelets are missing a protein that allows them to adhere properly (or clot). This increases bleeding time and significantly prolongs the most simple of injuries. “To you and I a nose bleed is nothing more than an inconvenience, to him it can be life threatening,” wrote his mother, Gayla Oyler in a letter publicizing the family’s plight.
Wyatt Oyler
Doctor’s have recommended that Wyatt undergo a bone marrow transplant and and have placed him at “high risk status.” The transplant alone will cost around $600,000, not including searches, the chemotherapy, radiation, transportation, lodging, food and other costs. The family has learned that their estimated portion of the transplant alone will be between $40,000 and $60,000.
They have been holding fund-raisers and would welcome any help. Donations may be made to Kitsap Credit Union “Donations for Wyatt Oyler.”
Gayla also encourages people to consider becoming bone marrow donors. Brock Haarstad was lucky to have found a match in his 8-year-old brother, Ryan. A match has yet to be found for Wyatt.
Here’s the 411 on the Dance for a Wish event:
“Dance for a Wish: A Western Affair”
When: 7 p.m., Friday
Where: Presidents Hall, Kitsap County Fairgrounds
Tickets: $35 beforehand, $45 at the door. Visit www.kitsaprodeo.com or call (360) 337-7803
