Sixteen months ago, New Orleans Tou-Timin' Parrot Head Club members Mark & Cecile Steele received the devastating news that their 14-year old son, Justin Burns, had been diagnosed with AML Leukemia, a form that normally strikes adults over 40. Due to the extent of damage caused by this form of the disease, the only course of treatment would be a bone marrow transplant. Fortunately, Justin's brother Sean was a match and would serve as the donor. In the meantime, Mom Cecile was about five months pregnant, so needless to say, the family was dealing with more than its fair share of challenges.
Upon hearing the news of Justin's condition (and the fact that the Steele's insurance would not cover the blood products that he would need), New Orleans Parrot Heads immediately went to work organizing a blood drive and putting the word out to club around the country asking that donations be made in Justin's name. Cecile says they received blood donations from places like Gulf Shores, Galveston, North Carolina and as far as New Jersey. Some PH's who work at a prison in Kentucky even organized a blood drive at the prison.
In addition, other PH Clubs worked tirelessly to send Justin and the family hundreds of cards, letters & emails of encouragement, and the Colorado PH Club (in honor of a Leukemia survivor member of their own) sent a very generous donation to help the family with living expenses when they had to live in Houston part-time while Justine underwent his transplant at M.D. Anderson Hospital. While the family was there, Parrot Heads in Houston also offered their blood, places to stay, directions and every sort of help the family could use.
The Steele family is so grateful to all the Parrot Heads who helped (including those who helped anonymously) and send a huge thank-you to all who offered their upbeat support, kind words and well wishes. Happily, now one year after the transplant, Justin is doing extremely well ("miraculously" as Cecile describes it) with no leukemic activity in his system. His hair has grown back, they are working to fatten him back up, and he hopes to return to his junior year in high school this fall.
Once the doctors determine Justin's immune system can handle crowds again, the Steeles hope to take a "family trip" to a Jimmy Buffett concert. In the meantime, Justin plans to concentrate on returning to his school's swim team in hopes of earning a letter. The Parrot Heads are with you all the way, Justin... keep those fins up!