The reason why I am with you is because of my son Dean Sheikh. Dean is a 7 year old who has a rare and debilitating condition. Dean is also a very unique and special person, because there are only 38 known cases with his condition in the whole world. His condition is known as Dyskeratosis Congenita and Hoyeraal-Hreidarsson syndrome. The first condition Dyskeratosis Congenita is basically a bone marrow failure. His body can not produce enough blood and the second one affects his development and his ability to walk and talk. Dean has been in and out of hospital from since he was first diagnosed, 6 and a half years ago.

Dean has spent the last 30 days in hospital and has only been discharged today. He has had numerous tests,endless blood tests and they still dont know why he had a fever nearly every other day. His platelet levels kept dropping. Platelets help to clot the blood and my son has an average of 40. A normal person has between 150-400. If he is unwell and they drop down to 20, he needs a platelet transfusion. Dean has had 5 platelet transfusions and 3 blood transfusions in the past month. He has had a CT scan of the chest, several x rays and an ultrasound of his vital organs. This is all because in August 2007 Dean nearly died as he was affected by Pneumonistic carnii pneumonia which can be fatal.

It pains me to see him go through all of this. My sons health is deteriorating and is in desperate need of a bone marrow. Someone out there can help my son. I know that someone out there is a match. But they need to come forward and get onto that crucial bone marrow register. We need more people donating blood. As a helpless mother, I can only support him and pray that we find match soon and do as much as I can.

We are here today, not only to raise awareness but to dip into our pockets and donate generously. Please help with the auction and lets raise as much money as we possibly can tonight. ACLT are doing a fantastic job and if it wasnt for the ACLT, I would have been sureley lost. Not knowing what to do next. Its the Spirit of Bev and Orin that has kept the awareness and campiagning go forth and I just wanted to say thank you to them.

Please spread the word. only 4% of Asians are on the register. We are short of donors from the ethnic minorities. We need donors. Blood and Bone Marrow. Please help by becoming a donor or by financially helping as this is why we are here today. Please help my son and others live. Please give someone the Gift of Life.