Official Website of Country Recording Artist and Motivational and Inspirational Speaker Kevin Sharp

Brave Will
Willem Bernard Hladun was born on July 14, 2008. He is the youngest brother of Bennett (age 5) and Maxwell (age 2).

For nearly two months, Will has been a healthy, happy baby. With his two older brothers running around, Matt and Tammy appreciated that Will was laid back and was an "easy baby".

On September 12, just two days before his two-month birthday, Tammy discovered that Will's left leg was extremely swollen. She immediately rushed him to the hospital. For three days, doctors were unable to diagnose the reason for the swelling--a response to his shots; a broken bone; a spider bite, infection? At the same Tammy and Matt mentioned to the doctors that Will's head was measured to be a little larger than normal at his last checkup. One of the doctor's decided to have a cat scan done and found that the fluid around Will's brain had filled to a dangerous level. This was causing a tremendous amount of pressure on Will's head, causing him to have problems staying awake and focusing his eyes. An MRI was ordered the next day to confirm that fluid build-up. It was confirmed, but the same MRI showed a mass in Will's brain. That mass, as well as the swelling in Will's thigh, was the next day confirmed to be cancerous.

An operation was performed on September 16 to relieve the pressure in his brain and to take a biopsy of both his brain and leg. On September 17th, our little Brave Will was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer known as Rhabdoid. It is very aggressive and highly untreatable. Despite all of this, we are still holding out hope that Will can pull this out.

Visit Will's CaringBridge site

Ethan Powell
I pray that this letter reaches your sincere and kind heart, because I have an angel in need of your attention. His name is Ethan Powell. To date, 4 month old Ethan has graced this earth and has brought immeasurable joy and hope into the lives and hearts of those who know him. Unfortunately, as sometimes happens, with much joy can come much pain. On February 6, 2007, at Ethan’s two month well-baby check-up, Ethan was diagnosed with Leukemia. He had 1.6 million white blood cells at diagnosis (a high white blood cell count being around 30,000.) Ethan is facing his last few days of life without your intervention. Thousands, including myself, are determined to remain his “prayer warriors” supplicating for Ethan’s restored health.

Ethan needs your help. He needs a bone marrow transplant. Today, Ethan’s parents received sad news from his doctors at St. Jude in Memphis Tennessee. Because of a rare HLA marker that he has, Ethan’s match was not found in the entire national database. If we are able to recruit over 2 million donors in the next 5-6 weeks, we increase his chances of finding a match drastically. It is critical that everyone who hears, reads, and sees Ethan’s story respond immediately by contacting the nearest bone marrow drive agency and become a donor. We believe that it is possible to reach the number of people it will take to save Ethan’s life with your help.

If two million people sign up to be bone marrow donors, it could help Ethan, as well as countless other children in similar situations. Ethan’s rare genetic structure makes finding a match difficult, but there are many other children who don’t have matches as well. Minorities also have less of a chance of finding a match since there are so few registered.

To find your local Bone Marrow Center, click here

To read more about little Ethan and to be a "Prayer Warrior," click here

Mya Henderson
Young Mya Henderson of Bowling Green, Kentucky was barely seven months old when she was diagnosed with both Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) and Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL). She was admitted to the Monroe Carell Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, where she immediately began chemotherapy. She is currently undergoing her second round of chemo and after she has recovered from this 20-day treatment, Mya will have to have a bone marrow transplant. However, finding an exact match will be difficult. Despite all of the pain, Mya continues to provide all of us with encouragement as she faces the challenge of her young life.

To learn how you can help, please contact Paul Blick at 270-782-5964 or email pandd@bellsouth.net. Monetary donations can also be made at any Bowling Green BB&T branch location. The main branch address is 1820 SCOTTSVILLE RD, BOWLING GREEN, KY 42104

James Nofrey
I was inspired with your battle with cancer and living your dream of being a singer. I also had a dream of singing but I know have a bigger dream and that is watching my 3 kids grow up. Unfortunately my 4 year old son James has been diagnosed JMML (a rare leukemia). We are trying to raise funds and awareness for a blood and marrow drive through our web site, www.savejames.org. All donations go to the Foundations listed on our web site. We personally cannot accept any donations or we'll lose our medical. Any leftover funds go to the next drive that falls short on funds. The national bone marrow registry needs more donors on their list to help kids like my son. His will is stronger than mine ten fold. He has an 8 yr old brother (Tyler) and a baby sister (Cheyenne 4 monthes). Please help us fulfill these kids first wish of the chance to live a full life.

Matthew Pearl
Matthew is a 9 year old young man who suffers from a life-threatening illness called Fanconi's Anemia. After an intensive search, Matt recently underwent a bone marrow transplant and is recovering at the University of Minnesota Medical Center.

Because of the nature of his illness and to protect him from possible infection, Matt cannot receive any gifts other than cards.

Can you find it in your heart to send a card offering well wishes to Matthew? Please send to:

University of Minnesota Medical Center
500 Harvard St. SE
BMT Unit 4A-205
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Attn: Matt Pearl

You can read more about Matt on his website at www.alexandmatt.com.

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