On Tuesday night, we all gathered at Reed Space in the Lower East Side of Manhattan to raise money for 5 month old Baby Leni. Baby Leni was born with acute megakaryoblastic leukemia (AML-M7), a rare form of pediatric bone marrow cancer.  It represents approximately 1% of all leukemias during childhood & has an incidence of 0.5% per million per year. I’ve known her amazing and lovely young parents Jerry and Amanda for over 10 years now and watched them grow as a loving couple (adorably nicknamed “Jemanda”) into a trio when their first daughter Mae was born and now into a quartet with Miss Leni.
Me and Elle, Reed Space NYC 10.8.13
The news is heartbreaking, yes…BUT…you can help. If you remember a few years back I blogged about Jasmina who was also battling a rare form of bone marrow cancer. I went to a drive, got my inner cheek swabbed and now I am in the database for anyone that matches me and needs a bone marrow donor. Voila. Easy! Unfortunately, Jasmina never found a match and at 6 years old she passed.
So, I encourage you to please check LOVEFORLENI.COMÂ and SWABACHEEK.ORGÂ to find how you might be able to help Leni or another person who needs your help. You could save a life! How amazing would that be?! I’ll keep everyone posted on the happenings for Leni here on the East Coast, so hopefully you can come out and support.
Jerry, Amanda and Mae.
There was lots of good art that all kinds of artists (including me) donated so that the proceeds would go to Leni and an upcoming surgery she needs.
I bid on this piece, but I know I lost it 🙁