Bone marrow donors sought for Highland Mills boy, 3

Highland Mills — Aiden Berges, a three-year-old boy from Highland Mills, is suffering from hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) and is in need of a bone marrow transplant to save his life. The disease affects one in a million, is extremely rare and extremely difficult to diagnosis. On top of all the other obstacles the family now faces, the two primary ones are finding a bone marrow match, and funding the bone marrow drive search. The first bone marrow drive is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10, at St. Joan of Arc Church on Eagle Valley Road in Sloatsburg. Another drive is planned from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 17, by the Veterans Memorial Association at 65 Lake Road in Congers. “This past week was very busy,” his family reports on their Web site. “After the phenomenal walk at Suffern High School on Sunday Nov. 27, Aiden and Mom had the rare opportunity to attend a Make-A-Wish party at the Orange County Chopper shop and be taped for American Choppers on Discovery Channel. The Make-A-Wish special with air on Monday, Dec. 19, at 10 p.m. Since Aiden was chosen to hand the gift from Make-A-Wish to Paul Sr., Paul Jr., Mikey, Vinnie and Rick, we are hoping he will be making his national television debut. We had a great time. Aiden was so thrilled to get the signatures of all the guys and see all the fabulous motorcycles.... “Aiden is doing well. He was in clinic two times this past week and had his fourth and last spinal tap with chemotherapy. He really is a trooper. Just so good, even when he is not allowed to eat due to anesthesia. We are all excited for the holiday season and all the hope it holds. We are coming to the end of the induction protocol and will soon begin to gear up for transplant. At the moment it seems we will be heading into the hospital for transplant the third week of January. We have so many mixed feelings. The best part is Aiden is feeling well and is very animated these days. Playing with his sisters and the neighborhood kids. Even having sleepovers! It’s hard to imagine what he will be going through in just over a month when he enters transplant. We have to hope that his positive attitude will be the catalyst to get him through the most difficult of times.” To learn more about being a donor, visit www.marrow.org. To learn more about Aiden and his battle, visiting www.caringbridge.org, select, then type in Aidenberges.