Thanks to support from our donors, Hope Strengthens Foundation (HSF) has been privileged to assist 11-year old Michael Scala in his fight against leukemia.
Earlier this month, HSF co-founder Jake Ferreira was joined by fellow U. S. Coast Guard Reservists, Lieutenant Commander Dave Jenkins and Chief Warrant Officer Russ Shubert on a visit to Ronald McDonald House of Boston to meet with Michael and his mom Michelle.
In his full-time job, Russ is a Lieutenant with the Riverside (CA) Police Department. Russ provided Michael with a patch from his Department along with a challenge coin as symbols of appreciation and respect for Michael’s fight against cancer. Upon receiving these gifts, he perked up and smiled with great excitement!
Michael recently passed a critical hurdle of +100 days post bone marrow transplant and continues to undergo treatment. His next hurdle will be to get to +6 months post-transplant. Needless to say, he is in the midst of a critical window of time that will determine his future. Michael’s latest lab results have been positive and doctors gave him the green light to go with his mom to his grandfather’s home just outside of Philadelphia and receive treatment nearby at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
While HSF continues to cover medical bills and care expenses for Michael, we were struck by how such a simple gesture like presenting a coin and a patch made such a positive impact. As a result, we would like to share this message with the military, law enforcement and first responder communities across the nation, and encourage them to send their patches and challenge coins to Michael in recognition of his fight to beat cancer.
If you have connections with these communities, please share this message with them. Patches and coins can be sent to:
Michael Scala
101 Carriage Court
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462
Let’s keep Michael’s spirits high and help get him across the +6 month post-transplant target and on his way to a full recovery!
– HSF
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Monetary donations to help cover Michael’s medical and care bills can be sent to: hopestrengthens.org