Juliana

Juliana is a 5-year-old girl who possesses, within her body; her baby brothers best chance of survival.

In the summer of �99, Juliana�s 6-month-old brother, Jared, came down with a cold. That cold led to a pneumonia and hospitalization. After numerous tests and a trip from their home in Spokane Washington to Children�s Hospital in Seattle, Jared was diagnosed with an extremely rare immune deficiency. He was then started on monthly infusions of antibodies and his parents were warned to keep Jared as isolated as possible. Exposure to even the most simple and common of germs could lead to a serious infection and take his life. Essentially, Jared is a boy in a bubble.

This past October, at 20-months of age, Jared again came down with an infection. This time it was a life threatening pneumocystic pneumonia. During his 4-week hospital stay, he was placed on a ventilator and survival was in doubt.

Thanks to many prayers and the intervention of doctors, Jared overcame the infection. However, it became apparent that a bone marrow transplant would be the only hope to avoid such a close call in the future. Jared�s parents and Juliana gave blood to determine if one of them was a match and could donate their marrow to Jared. Because Jared�s father, Chris, is a Native American, they knew that it would be very difficult, if not impossible to find an unrelated match. If they would not find a match in the family, Jared�s future chances were very slim. After 4 weeks of anxiously awaiting, the results came back. Juliana was a match!

The Alexander family will leave for the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle on Dec.11th to begin the bone marrow transplant process that will take an estimated 4 to 6 months. The actual transplant surgery will take place in the days following the New Year.

For the past year and a half, Juliana has loved her brother unconditionally. For his sake, she has sat for hours in doctor�s offices and hospitals. She has been poked and prodded in the name of �genetic testing�. She has been denied some opportunities to participate in activities that other kids get to partake in. She has watched her parents grieve over her brother�s diagnosis and deliberate over treatment options. In these weeks leading up to Christmas, Juliana will be displaced from her home, school, and friends; she will drink daily iron supplements; she will undergo several medical tests; she will be left in the care of strangers as her parents attend to Jared, their work, and attempt to maintain their home in Spokane; and ultimately, she will undergo surgery to donate her bone marrow. Her sacrifices have been numerous, yet she has not questioned or complained. When asked if she wants to donate her bone marrow to Jared she says �of course, I�m a perfect match. I can make him better�.

In the eyes of those who love these children and hope to see them grow and become happy, healthy, confident adults, Juliana is more than a hero. She is our Godsend.