Thank you Alaskan friends

To the editor:

I have so much gratitude for the support my family has had from our beloved Alaska. Just last October my husband and I went on a spontaneous trip to Idaho. Neither of us had ever been there. The day we arrived I ended up in the hospital. The following day I was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia. Our world came to a screeching halt. Seventeen years prior, our oldest son, Logan, was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia. The nightmare started again.

As we found when Logan was diagnosed, there were many people who wanted to help. Our community surrounded us again with a vast outpouring of support. There were bone marrow drives, various fundraisers, gifts received, offers of help, and prayers being said. My fellow state of Alaska employees donated leave to me so I could keep my insurance and have income. I am proud to be a state employee and especially proud to work for the Department of Corrections. I am also grateful to my church family at Church on the Rock. The outpouring of support has been amazing.

Unfortunately, it’s hard to remember who all has put forth great effort to help us. I’m so afraid I will forget someone if I start naming people. Every person will always have my gratitude even if I don’t mention you by name. We really do appreciate you.

With that said, I do need to publicly thank several people who went above and beyond to help us. Angelia Wilson and her great group of volunteers who hosted the first bone marrow drive for me. Angelia set a record in registering almost 200 people at this event. We appreciate Design Signs for allowing them to have the event at their location. Annette Johnson, who had the most amazing organized group to host the second bone marrow drive. She also had Alaska Job Corps Center students there volunteering. We appreciate Turkey Red for allowing them space to register people. Trudy Bonnette and her huge group of volunteers, who held the third drive at Church on the Rock. There was also a fourth drive at a “Denali Destroyers” roller derby bout facilitated by Laurel Carlson, a lymphoma survivor. And May 21 she facilitated another bone marrow drive at University of Alaska Anchorage.

Mike and Carol Fritz, John and Annette Johnson and Stacie Stigar were the instrumental players in organizing a prime rib benefit dinner for our out-of-state expenses at the Palmer Moose Lodge. They had assistance from Diane Mongeau, Scott and Kaye Saxon, Mary Miller, Joyce McNiven, Lee and Loura Busse, Holly Trueblood, Mike and Susie Musgrove, Dorothy Wilson, and Meghan McNiven. They had a youth group from Church on the Rock there, under the direction of Trudy Bonnette, to help bus tables and clean up. There were an amazing amount of businesses and individuals who donated items for the auctions. One of my mother’s cheesecakes went for $200. That’s my mom!

The work put into this benefit was incredible. I thank all involved from the bottom of my heart. Now we don’t have to worry about the plane tickets, rent, out of pocket expenses, etc. When I am all better I will be donating leftover money to others in our community. But first we will host a party to celebrate my recovery!

Thank you, Alaskans for having our backs. We must stick together and assist those who need our assistance. You have done that for us. You are carrying us through and we are full of gratitude.

To follow my journey, go to killingleuk.com. It starts with “My Journey” and then continues on.

May God bless you.

Kelly Marre

Wasilla