Harrison Padua Leonardo Memorial Fund

i just read newbie dad's post on rice daddies stating that harrison leonardo has passed away. i feel so devastated and utterly heartbroken... honestly, after reading his parent's farewell letter, i can't stop crying. i can't even imagine what his parents are going through right now.

after i first read and posted about harrison, like newbie dad, i started to read his mother's journal too. the last time i checked, things were going relatively well since he received an umbilical stem cell transplant in april. there were good days and bad days, but it seemed like this was status quo for someone who was battling cancer and that eventually he'd fully recover (and start REALLY annoying his parents). i just can't believe he's gone and that it happened so unexpectedly (for me)... it feels as if it had happened on my watch and i had fallen asleep.

harrison's courageous story inspired me to register myself as a donor via AADP in an effort to try to help him and any other children who were suffering like him. when we got the registration materials, i was so disappointed when i found out i couldn't register the paloma or the pork chop since they were still minors. especially, since their biracial blood type (?) is what they were specifically looking for. if you haven't already registered, please consider doing so and helping someone who desperately needs it.

i looked at harrison's picture and thought how much he looked like a sibling/cousin of our kids. and i know what it's like to be a small child, suffering from an illness in a sterile hospital room - so, i prayed and prayed for him and sent him lots of big invisible love and scintillating wishes on stars. i guess i'll just do the same for his parents and remind myself that he's better now and i'm sure he's in very, very good company.

a memorial fund has been established in harrison's name. donations of any amount can be sent to the following address:

SF Fire Credit Union

C/O Harrison Padua Memorial Fund

3201 California St.

San Francisco, CA 94118

please make checks payable to "Harrison Padua Leonardo Memorial Fund, Account 100314.S1.1"

rest in peace, harrison. mahal kita.