To the editor:

I am writing to let the Whidbey Island community know of a family with a child with a life-threatening condition who needs our support.

I learned of them through the

Parent2Parent program after my daughter went through two years of treatment for cancer.

Ariana Williams of Oak Harbor is a 19-month-old who has been receiving platelet transfusions every two to three weeks at Seattle Children’s Hospital since September 2008. Now she is very sick and has been diagnosed with “failing bone marrow,” where her little body has stopped making all cells efficiently. She is set up to receive a bone- marrow transplant in March 2009.

Ariana’s father, Dean, will continue working while caring for Ariana’s sister, age 4. Ariana’s mother, Christine, will be required to live in Seattle close to Children’s Hospital for three to four months following the transplant.

A bank account has been set up at Wells Fargo bank called the “Ariana Williams Medical Fund.” Donations of any amount can be made to any Wells Fargo branch.

Times are financially tough for everyone right now, but imagine what it is like to face your child’s life-threatening illness and accompanying medical costs during this time. I know any amount you can spare will go a long way to help the Williams family.

Thank you for your generosity!

Erin Waterman

Langley