Noah Needs Your Help Tomorrow, Wednesday, Dec. 9

Noah and mom Alaina.

Since Noah Ramos, a 10-year-old La Verne Heights Elementary School student, was first diagnosed in August with aplastic anemia — a life-threatening condition in which the body doesn’t produce enough oxygen-carrying red blood cells, infection-fighting white cells or blood-clotting platelets – he has undergone 25 blood and platelet transfusions.  

Many have rallied to his defense, including Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, students, parents, teachers, community residents and local businesses such as Vons and Red Devil Pizza in La Verne.

Now his growing support team will be called into action again. Because his bone marrow is still not producing the necessary blood cells and platelets, he will be put on a donor waiting list for a bone marrow transplant. In the meantime, he needs more blood transfusions and more volunteers to be tested for placement on a bone marrow registry.

Joining in the latest effort is the Rock of the Foothills Church at 4630 Wheeler Ave. in La Verne. Tomorrow, Wednesday, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and medical staff from Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles will be there to draw blood. To schedule your appointment, email mkech@roadrunner.com. No appointment for the bone marrow test is necessary. If you donated blood at the American Red Cross-sponsored drive at Vons on Oct. 6, you must wait 56 days to participate again.

Hospital officials will reserve the units of blood for Noah and other children with serious diseases.

People can also assist Noah in the fight of his life by making donations to the La Verne Heights School, 1550 Base Line Road. For further information, call (909) 971-8205, ext. 4511.