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PIKE COUNTY - In November of 2010, Ty Ross was taken to the emergency room for a "boo boo" on his finger that just wouldn't heal. After blood test that came back abnormal results, more testing was done that showed his liver and spleen were enlarged. Bone marrow was then drawn and sent off for a biopsy to find the root cause of the problem. A diagnosis of Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia (JMML) was given.
According to Ty's caregivers, the doctors at Macon Medical Center had never seen a rare case of JMML so Ty was transported to the Children's Hospital of Atlanta for treatment. According to http://www.jmmlfoundation.org/, JMML "is a rare form of leukemia which affects young children, generally under the age of five."
Upon Ty's arrival at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, his family was educated about JMML. They were told that his chances of survival were 0% without a bone marrow transplant. At this point, John and Julie Yarbrough put their lives on hold to take care of their three year old grandson, Ty Ross. This journey with their grandson has been a testament of their faith.
On May 4, 2011, a man went to donate bone marrow to save someone else's life. It was a match for Ty and was transfused into Ty on the very same day. At this point, Ty's care, his support system, and healthcare became critical. He could not be exposed to any germs because his cell were wiped out as well as his immune system when the transplant took place.
Ty's system became stable in the span of just six weeks, and he got to move from the hospital to the Ronald McDonald House. Excessive cleanliness was an absolute for this sweet boy. John and Julie were prepared for it, but it was an exhausting job. At this point, their daughter Rachel also put her life on hold to help care for Ty.
The Yarbroughs describe the Ronald McDonald House like being in their own little apartment with caregivers that stopped to check in on everyone frequently. This was more of a home-style environment and they said that Ty seemed to like it better. His progress continued and so did his activity level. They went back to the clinic three times each week for checkups.
After a time, they were allowed to go back home with Ty though his activities outside of the home were limited. Today, Ty is described by friends as a wonderful child who loves God and gets happy feet to the music!
Tunes for Ty is a fundraiser that is being held at Mountain View Baptist Church in Thomaston on Saturday, September 24, 2011 from 10 am until 4 p.m. There will be door prizes, fun for the kids with face painting and jolly jumping, a booth for feather extensions, gospel music, and more! Pre-ordered BBQ plates can be picked up from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The winner of the $100.00 BP gas card will be drawn at 4 p.m. Winner does not have to be present to win.
Enjoy a day of good music, good eating, good company and knowing that you are a part of good cause! All proceeds will go directly to the Tunes for Ty fundraiser.
Update 9.27.11: Over $4,000 was raised on Saturday with promises of more to come. Thank you to all who came out and sang, ate chicken, got funky hair, bounced, and made donations for a chance at winning prizes and the $100 gas card! Y'all are awesome!
Those who helped out in any way at this benefit were very much appreciated too! This would not have been possible without your love and support.
Anyone who would like to donate to help out with Ty's medical expenses can contact United Bank and make a deposit to the account for the benefit of Ty Ross.
