Marrow Match Found, Fundraiser Planned for 'Angel'

"No one fights alone!" For 14-year-old Hellertown cancer patient , that slogan of survivorship has been lived.

Angel, who is battling leukemia and needs a bone marrow transplant, has been awaiting news that a bone marrow match has been found for him. His guardian angel came in the form of a phone call two weeks ago from the , an organization that helps cancer patients find bone marrow donors.

When the call finally came, the news on the other end of the line was beyond good. The Be A Match Registry informed that Mojica family that 16 bone marrow matches had been found for their son, and that 12 of the potential donors are perfect matches.

Angel’s father, Jose Mojica, said that finding 12 matches "is a blessing."

"We have 12 people and some people never get a match," he said.

In July, Angel was referred to in Memphis, Tennessee. They agreed to take his case and scheduled him for a bone marrow transplant in October, assuming that a match would be found in time. His family is now relieved to know that with 12 matches they will be sure to keep that appointment.

For Angel, who has been battling acute lymphoblastic leukemia for the past four years, a transplant is his only hope for survival.

This summer his fight took a turn for the worse, when he and his family were told that he would need a bone marrow transplant to live.

His most recent round of chemotherapy destroyed Angel’s bone marrow, and he is no longer able to produce healthy white blood cells on his own. A transplant, however, will infuse his body with healthy cells that will hopefully produce more healthy cells to fight off the leukemia cells, following the operation.

Angel and his family said they are grateful for all the help and support they have received from family, friends and total strangers, many of whom have participated in local events in order to help Angel and .

As Angel prepares for his trip to St. Jude Children‘s Research Hospital, his family must make preparations to be away from home for a minimum of four months. For Brenda and Jose, that is a small sacrifice in order to save their son. But this sacrifice comes with the high price tag of covering living expenses at home while they are in Tennessee with Angel, and away from their jobs.

This weekend, a fundraiser will be held at the Victory Firehouse in Southside Bethlehem to help Angel and his family with the many expenses they will incur while at his bedside in Tennessee.

Here are the details for the fundraiser being held this weekend:

What: Star Window Fundraiser for Angel Mojica

When: Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011 - 9:00am to 4:00pm

Where: Victory Firehouse, 205 Webster Street, Bethlehem, Pa.

This event is open to the public. Come sing karaoke, jump in the moon bounce or get your face painted. There will be a silent auction with raffle baskets and more than 30 gift certificates available for bidding. Have your picture taken with SpongeBob or Dora the Explorer, and then sit down and have something to eat.

It takes a village to raise a child, and Angel certainly has a village behind him.

Come join this “village” and help make a difference in the life of a teen named Angel Mojica.