We are always amazed and overcome with joy to see how far you have come in three short years. Three years ago we sat with you in an isolated hospital room on the transplant floor of Seattle’s Children’s hospital and watched as your donor stem cells slowly transfused into your blood system. We hoped and prayed that these magical cells would find their way to your bone marrow and set up a permanent home there. For the second time in your short life, we put you through several months of hell, starting with a painful surgery to place a central line and a week of high dose chemotherapy and immune suppressants to make room in your bone marrow for those magical donors cells.
While the chemotherapy made you weak and fragile-looking, you never lost your spirit and optimistic outlook on life. At just 4 years of age, you told us that you understood why you needed to go through so much pain and suffering, you explained to us, your parents, that it is all going to be worth it someday. Because you will be able to make friends with actual children your age (not the stuffies we called friends) and be able to enjoy the outdoors and school just like any boy your age. You knew better than us, that someday you would be ziplining down a high tree at camp while your friends cheer you on.
Three years later you are a tall strong boy who loves adventure and camp and is always up for the next challenge to overcome. You inspire us both and many many others you have never met. And your journey inspired a whole movement of Hyper IgM families whose legacy will be that someday we find a cure for this terrible disease that will not require the risk and challenges you went through. We love you Idan! Keep inspiring us every day!
Our goal is to raise $15,000 this summer in honor of Idan’s cure and in support of the Hyper IgM Foundation. This will allow the Foundation to increase its research grants to the labs focused on gene therapy and accelerate a cure.
Donate today and help us cure Hyper IgM Syndrome!
You can donate on Idan’s campaign page on Network For Good or on Idan’s Facebook Fundraising page.