One Boy's Sacrifice

Topic(s): Children, Love

In early 1992, Jeff Leeland received devastating news: “Your baby boy has cancer. Michael needs a bone marrow transplant.” The good news was that Michael’s six-year-old sister, Amy, was a perfect match for the transplant. But Jeff’s insurance company wouldn’t pay for it. He had started a new job as a teacher at Kamiakin Junior High in Seattle only six months earlier, and the policy required a year on the job before it would cover a transplant.

By March, Michael’s need was urgent. If he didn’t get the bone marrow soon, he would die. The Leelands needed to raise $200,000 by May.

Fellow teacher Joe Kennedy told his class about the Leeland’s situation. Dameon, a seventh grade boy who walked with a limp and struggled in special education classes, made a visit to the Leeland’s house.

“Mr. Leeland, don’t make a big deal out of this . . . if your baby’s in trouble, I want to help out.” Dameon, the kid others teased, reached out his hand and stuffed 12 five-dollar bills into the teacher’s hand. It was the boy’s life savings. Others heard of it and were touched. Some held a car wash. “Teenagers,” Jeff says, “are pre-adults in limbo-land waiting around for something important to do.” Michael become important.

The junior high kids’ wave of compassion poured out across Seattle. A week after Dameon’s gift, a man walked into the bank with a check for ten thousand dollars. Michael’s fund grew to $16,000. Seattle’s TV stations picked up the story, and by the end of May, Michael’s fund grew to $62,000. The Leelands were boosted with hope when the hospital moved Michael’s transplant back by two weeks.

On June 5, the fund had grown to $143,000. June 8: $160,000. June 9: $185,000. Finally, the goal. Only four weeks after Dameon’s gift of $60, the Michael Leeland Fund totaled over $220,000.

Michael got the marrow transplant. He lived.

Dameon grew close to the Leeland family during those weeks. Tragically, he later developed an infection in his leg and died from complications. Michael lives on to tell his story: Dameon, the unlikely hero, gave his all to save another boy’s life.

“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others” —Philippians 2:3-4