Alize's Leukemia, Family Assisstance

WHO IS ALIZE?

On January 23, 1998 Alize Marin was born into this world. She is a regular 14 year old girl from Bethlehem, PA who attends Agora Cyber Charter School. Before that she attended South Mountain Middle School and Jefferson Elementary. Her favorite subject is Math and she enjoys showing off her creative side by doing arts and crafts. Similar to many young girls her age she loves playing computer games, spending time with animals, and listening to R&B/Pop music. Her favorite singer is Rihanna. Alize has two pets, a cat named Tosh, and a Malti-poo breed dog named Zoey whom she spends time with grooming and pampering often. Alize has three brothers...William Marin 16, Julian Picart 11, and Joshua Picart 8. Sadly Alizes father was murdered 3 years ago and her mother Samali Picart has been the main parent figure since then.

What seems to be a normal 14 year old girls life was completely flipped upside down on April 8, 2012 when she was diagnosed with AML Leukemia, FTL3 Positive which is one of the hardest to cure. She was admitted to Lehigh Valley Hospital Cedar Crest since her diagnosis on April 8^th and has only been home once for about a week before having to be admitted again. Alize is administered chemotherapy treatment once a month through her spine as well as regularly through IV along with antibiotics and pain meds. As of right now she has virtually no immune system. There is a bone marrow transplant scheduled for July or August to be done in Hershey, PA where her 16 year old brother William Marin will be the donor for Alize. Despite all this devastating news the mother Samali and the family have not given up hope and continue to pray and think positive, although it is very hard at times. Alize has her ups and downs, crys, and gets very upset about all this just as anyone of us would but she continues to remain a fighter. More then anything right now Alize needs her mother to be there with her as much as possible. Her mother Samali works at a T-mobile call center and has been there for under a year, therefore she does not qualify for FMLA or anymore type of paid time off. They were able to give her an unpaid accommodation from April 9 – May 27 but eventually was asked to return to work. Being that it was an unpaid leave from work the family has suffered some financial setbacks. Through medical assistance and a non-profit program called 4 Diamonds, Samali has gained access to some help but not nearly enough as the family needs. As if all this is not enough for one family to deal with, the T-mobile call center where Samali works is scheduled to close on June 22, 2012 and she will be unemployed. Donations have been minimal and recently we started a donation website which will hopefully raise more awareness. Alize and her family have all been depressed, confused and upset wishing this was all just a nightmare that would end soon. That is why more than ever right now this family needs the community to extend a helping hand and donate whatever possible to help this mother and family afford to spend the time needed with Alize and not have to worry about financial burdens.
-Words from Alizes mother, Samali Picart-