How You Can Help

It is hard to believe that we are here... again.  And yet, here we are -- accepting the diagnosis and reconciling the facts with our emotions so that we can act in Jade's best interests and see her emerge from this stronger than ever. Jade will beat this; of that, I have to be sure. But as strong and as brave as I know her to be, she won't do it all on her own.   

Many of you have asked , "How can we help?" There isn't a quick or easy response to that question. Often times I find myself not even knowing what to ask for, but you have all been exceptional in terms of anticipating some of our needs. What I do know is that through all of this, it has been reaffirmed how amazingly wonderful, supportive, generous, selfless, and faithful our family, friends, and colleagues are.  Gratitude doesn't begin to express our feelings, but we trust that you'll forgive us for not having the wherewithal to return each of your messages or eke out thank you cards yet, but we do THANK YOU, APPRECIATE YOU, and THANK GOD FOR YOU. Every prayer, Facebook message, text, email, phone call, visit, embrace, gift card, grocery delivery, meal, afterschool pick-up, play-date, blood or marrow offer, and present for Jade or Little Jay continues to bring us a measure of comfort during this extraordinarily difficult time and ultimately aids in Jade's complete healing...

1. Because Jade's leukemia has proven to be particularly stubborn and able to survive five rounds of chemotherapy, she will need a bone marrow transplant to be cured of her leukemia. Approx. 500 children are diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia each year; another 2,500 are diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.  You may or may not be a match for Jade, but wouldn't you like to help save any one of these children?  I signed up for the bone marrow registry more than ten years ago when I was still an undergraduate.  

Please visit www.bethematch.org (formerly www.marrow.org) for details on how you can sign up.

2. Our doctors agree.  The one thing that everyone can do, regardless of where they live or their financial conditions, is to give blood. Jade had more than 20 transfusions of blood and/or platelets during her first fight with this cancer when her counts (hemoglobin, platelets, etc.) dropped as a result of the treatment.

Please contact your local health provider or the visit www.redcross.org

3. Give a gift card. I know, it seems crass. And honestly, I hesitated to write it, but cancer is not without its financial drains -- parking, co-pays, take-out food, unpaid leave, etc. Gift cards for household expenses like groceries, gas, pharmacy and purchases at places like Target, Safeway, Shell, and Home Depot can be a huge help.

4. Cards, letters, etc. can be sent to our home address or to Jade's attention at: 

Children's National Medical Center
Hematology/Oncology Unit
111 Michigan Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20010

5. Please continue to keep our Jade Amarah -- and her complete healing -- in your prayers and thoughts.