Please check out the piece Justin Schmidt of KCTV5 did about Bo and the Macan family that was on the five o’clock news this evening:
Family, friends, strangers open hearts and wallets to young boy with rare disease
There’s some super cute video of Bo, and interviews with Carolyn, Leksi and Amanda McCoy.
Here’s the story, written by Justin Schmidt
ROELAND PARK, KS (KCTV) -The Macan family of Roeland Park, KS, is heading to Cincinnati, OH, on Sunday to see if their youngest son Bo is a candidate for a bone marrow transplant.
“Hopefully we’ll be able to have a bone marrow transplant to fix some things. He has diabetes, growth hormone deficiency and a thyroid problem, all kinds of yucky things,” said Bo’s mother Carolyn Macan.
Super Bo, as his mom calls him has IPEX. It’s a very rare immune system disease. People with IPEX don’t have a certain type of white blood cell that regulates the immune system. Bo has the only known case in Kansas or Missouri.
“Essentially he has no immune system. They’re hoping the bone marrow will fix his immune system. Getting a cold for him is three to five days in the hospital,” Macan said.
Saturday morning, the Macan’s friends and neighbors held a bake sale, hoping to give whatever support they could.
“The kids really wanted to show Bo they could make a difference too, and not just make it about what the adults do. Really get involved,” said Amanda McCoy, a family friend.
Bo’s mom said she’s overwhelmed that so many people care so much.
“A lady just stopped and handed me a card, it was not signed and it had $100 in it,” Macan said. “I have no idea who she was, but thank you.”
Bo and Carolyn Macan will spend up to 18 weeks in Cincinnati if the bone marrow transplant comes through. Bo’s oldest sister Leksi said she’ll miss her mom and brother, but can’t believe how much her classmates at Roseland Elementary have helped.
“It’s really cool for people to do that for my brother,” Leksi said.
Click here for more information on IPEX syndrome.
Click here to follow Bo’s progress or make a donation through the Macan’s blog.
Copyright 2012 KCTV (Meredith Corp.) All rights reserved.
Sammie, Amanda, Kellie, Andrea, Heather, Carolyn, Samantha, Lisa, Leksi, Morgan, Leslie, Rylee, and Baylee
Thanks again to everyone who participated in the bake sale. It was a truly wonderful day.
-kel
Amanda McCoy - What an amazing day!