From MatchJake.org:
"On February 17, 2012, at exactly 5 1/2 years old, we took our boy Jake to a doctor’s appointment to try and figure out why in just one week he was bruising more than usual, had a very slight but persistent bloody nose, and was too tired to walk to school. Later that night we were stunned when he was diagnosed with Severe Aplastic Anemia. For reasons currently unkown, Jake’s bone marrow has stopped working – which means that it's not producing red or white blood cells or platelets."
What does that mean?
- First, it means life as Jake knew it prior to Feb 17 has changed dramatically. Kindergarten has been replaced with a daily regime of medications and a weekly regime of doctor's appointments, blood tests and transfusions.
- Second, it means life for his family now requires a crash course in pediatric hematology, homeschooling Jake and constantly struggling to figure ways to keep his life "normal" but safe for a creative, busy, happy kid with no immune system and dangerously low levels of blood in his body.
- Third, and most important, it means finding Jake’s cure, a bone marrow transplant. This is where you come in...
On Sunday September 9th you can come make a difference in this boy's life by attending the Dark Horse Lounge Match Jake Fundraiser. Live music all night long while we collect cheek swabs for bone marrow matching from willing volunteers. Even if you don't plan on being a marrow donor, please come and enjoy some live music as all profits from the night will be given to Match Jake Trust. Just being there helps!
Bands Performing:
Travis Rocco and the Gypsy Mimes (https://www.facebook.com/travisroccomusic)
Mercury Morning (https://www.facebook.com/MercuryMorning)
The Defending Champions (https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Defending-Champions/122009294529545)
Nalani and Sarina (https://www.facebook.com/nalanisarinamusic)
WDHA's Lindsay Klein (https://www.facebook.com/LindsayKleinRocks) will be on hand with concert tickets to raffle off, as well as a month's tuition for private music lessons at Olive Tree Music Academy (http://www.olivetreemusicacademy.com/), a 1-night stay at a NYC hotel, and a professional photo shoot with photographer Jean Fordyce (https://www.facebook.com/fordycestudio)
Doors open at 6:30, first band at 7:00pm and drink specials all night long. Please come support the cause and have a blast while you're at it!!!
For info on how you can help Jake in other ways, please visit http://MatchJake.org/
For more information on Aplastic Anemia and bone marrow donation please visit http://marrow.org/
