WGIRLS NOLA : Blood Drive to Save A Child with Terminal Cancer

Meet Micah: The only thing worse than terminal cancer, is a child suffering from it. 12 year old Micah Roshell is so much more than a pediatric hospital patient. He is a little boy with a big smile, huge heart, love for the Saints and his friend Drew Brees, huge family, and an illness that hinders his huge personality by confining him (most days) to a hospital bed. I first met Micah and his mother Valetta, who I now know as Ms.Val, at the Hope Lodge New Orleans where they stay while he receives treatment. As a regular volunteer there cooking meals for the patients and their families with my organization the WGIRLS NOLA since 2009, I had seen Ms. Val at the Lodge many times before I realized she was not an employee there. She was always racing around the Lodge assisting other families, getting them acclimated, directing volunteers, and often times organizing the activities that happen there. It never occurred to me that she, who seemed so comfortable there and put all of her energy into making everyone else comfortable, was that way because she had unfortunately already been there for far too long. It wasn’t until several months later when I had the opportunity to talk to Ms. Val on a more personal level and learn about their story that she told me she was just another mother of a sick child. Being just another mother was a gross understatement, even coming from such a humble woman. Ms. Val is the self-appointed house mother and nurturing those on a similar journey as her own is her form of treatment, because as I quickly observed her and several other mothers who spend their days by a hospital bed, they are suffering just as much as their children. It isn’t simply a mothers devotion to her son (although you won’t find another mother more devoted than she) that caught the attention of our group, it was her wholehearted undertaking of every patient (adult and child alike) as well as their caregivers which makes her praiseworthy. During our first real conversation she pulled out multiple photo albums and proudly showed off her large family (those of which she rarely sees due to her full time presence in New Orleans with Micah while he undergoes treatment and their hometown of DeRidder, LA being a far distance away) as well as pictures of Micah during and after multiple surgeries. After viewing years of their families happiest and most heartbreaking memories (and fighting back tears), I had the pleasure of meeting Micah. Much like the first time we met, every time I see him he greets me with a smile, even when I can tell its physically painful for him to make that small movement. He was diagnosed at only 9 years old with both Kawasaki disease and stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (Cancer) after suffering from what was first deemed sinus headaches. Since then he has undergone several rounds of both Chemotherapy and Radiation as well as multiple surgeries and constant blood transfusions. While other boys his age are growing bigger and stronger Micah is losing weight, unable to eat, and becomes increasingly weaker as his diseases progress. He is in need of blood and platelets everyday which too often are hard to get when the need is far greater than the supply. Every time I have seen Micah I have left in tears knowing that he and his mother have been separated from his father, 7 brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, grandparents, and several aunts, uncles, and cousins. I also cry because Micah should be outside running around getting dirty with his friends not wearing a face mask because the slightest germ could set him back even further. He should be complaining about things that don’t matter as most of us do, not sitting silently getting poked and prodded and tested. He should know hundreds of kids his own age instead of doctors, nurses, and volunteers. He should be care free and happy instead of worrying about how his family will cope with his loss and making plans for his own funeral.

Next time I shed a tear for Micah I want it to be one of happiness and hope. Tears of sadness are not helping him battle his illness and he doesn’t want or need your pity. What he does need is your help.
What better way to share the holiday spirit, then give the gift of life to a little boy who is not asking for material possessions this Christmas. All Micah wants is to be a normal healthy boy and spend the time he has been given with his adoring family.

Please join us on December 28th at :

3400 16th Street
New Orleans, LA
For a blood and platelet drive benefiting our friend Micah. If you live outside the blood donation area or are not a qualifying donor, monetary donations can be made on Micah’s behalf at www.facebook.com/WGIRLS NOLA or mail gifts to:
The Hope Lodge
c/o Micah Roshell
2609 River Road
New Orleans, LA 70121

You can also follow Micah’s story at

www.caringbridge.org/visit/micahtraroshell/mystory

Click here to watch a video of Micah that aired on ESPN

www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-nanyhQDkQ

Please help us help Micah! For more ways to get involved contact us at contact@nola.wgirls.org