Help the Gilmore Family Manage Liam's Illness

Hello Friends,

At a time when parents everywhere face challenges to keep their children and themselves healthy, happy and safe, my friend Deana is facing what we fear most, a seriously ill child. Rick and Deana Gilmore have triplet sons, 12 year old Matthew, Jacob and Liam. Now that’s a busy household! Liam was diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia in November after routine blood work to look into some large bruises revealed seriously low numbers. The pediatrician called late on a Saturday and told them to go directly to the ER. More blood work followed to determine the cause of Liam’s dangerously low platelet, red blood cell and neutrophil counts. He underwent a bone marrow biopsy the next morning, followed by the first of numerous platelet and blood transfusions.

One minute the Gilmore’s were enjoying a Saturday night at home with their sons, and now their world revolves around twice-weekly labs, platelet and blood transfusions for Liam, keeping him safe from infections, preparing for a bone marrow transplant, and making arrangements to separate the family for an extended time so Deana and Liam can go to Salt Lake City, Utah for the transplant.

Aplastic Anemia

What is aplastic anemia? Aplastic Anemia is a complete failure of the bone marrow. Stem cells in the bone marrow produce blood cells — red cells, white cells and platelets. In aplastic anemia, stem cells are damaged. As a result, the bone marrow is either empty (aplastic) or contains few blood cells (hypoplastic). The most common cause of aplastic anemia is from the immune system attacking the stem cells in the bone marrow.

The role of bone marrow in Aplastic Anemia

Bone marrow produces all blood cells: red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

Red blood cells contain a protein called hemoglobin that carries oxygen from the lungs to tissues.

White blood cells fight infection.

Platelets are important for blood to clot.

Liam is at high risk of infection and other serious complications. As a result, he cannot attend school, and must avoid being in public. The Gilmores are taking every precaution to prevent him from being exposed to viruses, bacteria, fungal infection and to be watchful for signs of internal bleeding.

The cure for Aplastic Anemia is a bone marrow transplant. (Liam will receive his bone marrow transplant in Salt Lake City, Utah.) Although Liam’s parents and brothers underwent HLA bone marrow typing, they were not a match for Liam. Fortunately, the bone marrow registry has identified 35 to 40 potential donors that would be an excellent match. Even so, this is a long and stressful process. The matching donors need to be contacted, triaged, tested and agree to the transplant. Once the donor is cleared, Rick, Deana and Liam will need to leave for Salt Lake City.

Deana and Liam will be living in their RV at a campground close to the hospital for the duration of Liam’s treatment with Rick traveling back and forth to visit Liam. Due to a risk of infection, Matthew and Jacob and other family members will not be allowed to visit. If everything goes as planned with the transplant, no fevers, no donor delays, no signs of rejection, Deana and Liam will be away from home for at least 100-120 days. Once home, a year of follow up appointments will follow.

Deana has set aside her thriving upholstery business to focus on Liam and this tremendous challenge. In talking to her these past several weeks, I am struck by how complex this condition is. So many ups, downs, if’s and hope nots. In every conversation, I have also seen how calm, determined, faithful and resilient Deana has become while dealing with multiple hospital visits for transfusions, blood work results trending in the wrong direction over and over again and a recent 6 day hospital stay. Liam is in good hands for sure and a true Mama Bear is headed for Salt Lake City! And Rick will hold down the fort in Eagle, Idaho, managing his job and two 12 year old boys.

Deana and Rick are people of deep faith and have raised their sons to rely on the power of God’s love and guidance in all situations. The prayers of friends, family and strangers around the country have lifted them up and strengthened their hope for a smooth transplant, uncomplicated by rejection that could extend their separation from Rick, Matthew, and Jacob. Many have asked, “What can I do? How can I help?” Deana and Rick’s first response to these questions has been and will always be, “Prayer, lift us up in prayer.” With the transplant potentially just a few weeks away, the reality of the family separation, setting up a second ‘household’, medical and travel expenses for the next 12 months, is now front and center for the Gilmore family.

I offered to set up this Go Fund Me account for the Gilmores several weeks ago. At that time, they didn’t have a diagnosis, or a treatment plan. Now the path is clear for what needs to happen to bring this trial to a happy, healthy conclusion for Liam and his family. And that path involves significant expenses, both known and unknown. The campground rental is around $1,000 a month. There are meals, travel expenses, co-insurance, medication, and much that remains to be seen during the 4 to 12 month treatment duration. Placing Deana’s upholstery business on hiatus is an added strain. Rick and Deana are grateful for the resources they have, family close by, health insurance and a supportive church community, but it is apparent that the financial requirements of this journey are more than most any family could anticipate.

Please consider donating any amount to help Rick, Deana, Liam, Matthew and Jacob cope with the knowns and unknowns of treating Liam’s illness. I know that donations will certainly ease the ‘practical’ challenges of this long road to healing. Your donation may allow the Gilmores to focus on healing, on keeping their young family connected during the long separation, and strengthening their faith in the face of true adversity. Please continue to pray for Liam and donate if you are able.

On Behalf of Deana and Rick, Thank you.

Bethany Wheaton