Teen football player from Eureka needs more help
The Daily Inter Lake
The Washington-based Childhood Cancer Careline has put out a plea for support for Donald Marquis, the 18-year-old Eureka teenager who was diagnosed in February with acute myeloid leukemia.
Marquis, a high-school football player, was featured in the Daily Inter Lake in early March in a story about the efforts of Doug Betters and his foundation to help the family meet living expenses in Seattle where he is receiving aggressive chemotherapy.
Until receiving a grant from For the Children foundation, his parents Dan and Jennifer Marquis were living in their car while Donald received these treatments.
The family was struggling since Dan was off work in construction due to complications of a broken neck and Jennifer, a plumber, was sidelined by a high-risk pregnancy.
According to the e-mail sent to the Inter Lake by Childhood Cancer Careline, Donald's first round of chemotherapy reduced the tumors and made him more comfortable. His brother Steven, 17, has been identified as a good match for a bone-marrow transplant.
The Childhood Cancer Careline is asking for donations because doctors don't want to proceed with preparations for the bone marrow transplant unless Dan and Jennifer can guarantee they can provide a clean home environment and ensure Donald's stay for at least six months in Seattle.
"For any hope to survive, he needs this treatment," said Denise Plaxco, president of Childhood Cancer Careline.
Plaxco said her organization has the daunting task of trying to keep a roof over the family of five while Donald receives treatment at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.
The $3,000 grant received from Betters' organization helped them rent a one-bedroom apartment a mile from the treatment center for the first three months. Now, the family has found a larger place 10 blocks away and obtained modest furnishings with help from Sharehouse in Seattle.
Dan is seeking work as a construction equipment operator and carpenter to help support the family. Jennifer is still in the middle of her pregnancy. She lost one of their twins, apparently due to the stress of dealing with Donald's cancer.
Childhood Cancer Careline sent out a plea asking for donations from Washington communities as well as those in Montana. Money raised will help pay rent, food and living essentials.
People may make donations online to www.childhoodcancercare.org or mail donations to CCCL, P.O. Box 1138, Bothell, WA 98041. To contact the organization for more information, call (425) 870-5622 or (206) 459-5484.