Two-Year-Old In Need Of Rare Marrow Donor

Nov. 30 - KGO (KGO) -- This is the season of gift giving and a Bay Area boy is asking the entire community for help. He needs the gift of life.

Stephanie Isaacson, Harrison's mother: "Each one of these beads is indicative of a procedure he's had."

A bead for blood transfusions, chemotherapy, anesthesia -- seven beads in the last week alone symbolize what Harrison Leonardo is going through. He's just two years old and battling Leukemia. The cancer went into remission in August, but now Harrison is back at Oakland Childrens Hospital. His only hope is a bone marrow transplant.

Carol Gillespie, Asian American Donor Program: "Harrison is of mixed race. He's half Filipino and half Caucasian, which makes it extremely difficult to find a donor in the current registry."

There are more than six million potential donors in the national registry, but only 34,000 are Filipino and just 11,000 are biracial.

Harrison's baby brother is not a match. So like 70 percent of Leukemia patients, he is relying on the genorosity of a stranger. It does happen.

Jona Garland, bone marrow recipient: "I was happy, overwhelmed."

Jona Garland is a 24-year-old Filipino American from Daly City who was diagnosed with Leukemia when she was a child. She thought she had beaten the cancer, but suffered a relapse. Earlier this month she met the woman from Los Angeles who turned out to be her miracle match.

Jona Garland: "I love her. She gave me my life and I thank her for everything she's given me."

There is now an all-out effort to help Harrison. His dad, O.J., is a San Francisco firefighter. The department is sponsoring a bone marrow drive to recruit potential donors.

Chief Joanne Hayes-White, SFFD: "In times like this we really want to put our arms around each other and help each other."

Harrison, a little boy who loves cars and dinosaurs, is counting on the ethnically diverse Bay Area to come through.

Stephanie Isaacson: "You would not believe how courageous our son is."

The firefighters' bone marrow drive is Wednesday, December 27th at the Cathay House at 1524 Powell Street. But you don't have to wait until then. The Asian American Donor Program has ongoing events. The procedure is painless, just a swab of your cheeks.

Related links:

• Help Harrison find a donor: www.helpharrison.com
• American Asian Donor Program www.aadp.org

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