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Jackon Gets His Shot At A Dream – And You Can Help

Jackon Gets His Shot At A Dream – And You Can Help

In one of the great human dramas we have seen play out the past few years the football field once again becomes the place where we find the best in all of us.  Our staff writer, Mike Noftle, is as much of a small town football expert as anyone.  In fact I would dare to say that Mike is perhaps the one person I know who understands what this game is about, or supposed to be about, more then anyone.

Noftle Bikers Histio Citosis Fundraiser

At Royal High School in Washington Mike is well known as a life long supporter and the Radio Voice of the Royal Knights.  Equally well known in the community is his Son Jackson who has been bravely battling the life threatening disease Histiocytosis.  A Senior Jackson struggles everyday to make it and Hope for a cure.  He is going to forego some treatments this season to be a part of the football team and the family and Jackson need your help.  

This is why I appeal to all of you to read the story and the update on Jackson.

By helping we could all be part of Jackson's magical season and help him have a better life.  Something we should all do for each other when we can.


From Mike Noftle-

It is time again for our 3rd Annual Histio Heroes Bike-A-Thon.  Many of you know that my 17 year-old son Jackson has been fighting a rare cancer-like blood disease called Histiocytosis since the age of 4.  With your help we raised an incredible $46,000 for research last year.  We are very grateful to those of you who took the chance to help the cause.  Fundraising for this year’s event is even more urgent than last.  The disease is rare enough that it does not qualify for any government funded research, so a group of parents of Histiocytosis patients have formed a fundraising organization to raise funds to support the research of Dr. McClain.  On Saturday, June 15th our family and a host of local volunteers will again be hosting a Bike-a-Thon in our hometown of Royal City, WA to raise funds to contribute to the Histio Cure Foundation.  I know you are all spread out across the country and obviously not likely to attend, but if any of you or your organizations would feel comfortable donating to help sponsor the cause it would be sincerely appreciated.

Here is an update on Jackson’s current situation written by his mother:

Jackson finished up 12 rounds of Chemo in January 2013.  In March, Michael and I took Jackson to Houston to see the leading Histiocytosis Specialist Dr. Ken McClain.  I had warned Dr. McClain through e-mail that Jackson was not excited by Dr. McClain’s plan to continue chemotherapy with either an oral daily chemo drug or a different chemo delivered through his port 4 days every 28 days like he had done the previous 12 months.  When he saw Jackson he asked him what mattered most to Jackson right now in his life.  Jackson was emotional and just told him that he wanted to suspend treatment and participate in Football his Senior year and have a school year without Chemo 4 days every month and blood draws weekly. Dr. McClain said his MRI’s showed no new lesions and that the bony lesions were significantly smaller.  The other lesions in the pons, and cerebellum and pituitary gland were also slightly smaller than 12 months earlier.  He said that if having this break from Chemo improved Jackson’s outlook on life then that’s what we would do.  He assured Michael and I he wouldn’t allow it if he thought it would adversely affect Jackson’s future health.  Jackson has been visibly lifted by this, you can see it in every part of his life.  While in Houston Dr. McClain told us they had finally gotten enough specimens of spinal fluid from Histio patients and were able to conduct their research trial and determine if an increased protein type found in spinal fluid was indicative of active Histiocytosis disease in that patient.  This clue will help them and others in researching how to best determine early diagnosis and treatment of Histiocytosis.

In other news Jackson was just elected the new High School ASB President for the 2013-2014 senior year.  He was quite emotional giving his speech during the election campaigns last Friday and the students gave him a standing ovation at the end of his speech.  He is so excited to have what he hopes is a normal senior year next year.  He will still have to go to Seattle Children’s once a month for the IVIG treatments which is about a 5 hour infusion but that will seem easy after these last 12 months! 

The following is a link to a video that was posted on YouTube that features Jackson and tells his story: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nL02Ud7pLmI

I have attached some information that further explains the event, the cause, and where the funds will be used.  If you have questions, please let me know.  You can visit our Facebook pages athttp://www.facebook.com/pages/Histio-Heroes-Bike-A-Thon/162226707169760 orhttps://www.facebook.com/events/457257661025694/

Please make any donations to:

Royal Histio Heroes

PO Box 97

C/O Mike Noftle

Royal City, WA  99357

Due to popular demand, we also have an online donation option.  You can donate using your credit/debit card or PayPal account using the following link:

http://www.payitsquare.com/collect-page/12597

Thank you for your consideration,

Mike Noftle

509-989-5955

 


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