SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, May 27, 2017
Malakai
from 1A
“So when he was 2-1/2
years old, we moved here.
And by his third birthday, he
had a full, healthy head of
hair. It was thick and getting
curly and that was definitely
an indication of things shift-
ing for him,” Stone said.
Things went along well for
the family, for a while, but
then the Stones noticed that
the simple colds and illnesses
that were shrugged off by
Malakai’s sisters were a larg-
er problem for Malakai.
“We knew that there was
something still going on
because he was getting sicker
than his sisters and it was tak-
ing a lot longer to recover,”
Stone said. “Then he had a
bout with pneumonia that was
very difficult to get rid of, it
took three rounds of antibi-
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otics and we were referred to
a pulmonologist.”
Ultimately, that referral led
to more tests with more spe-
cialists, which led to the diag-
nosis that only 200 people on
the planet have received.
Malakai had a severe disease
of the immune system.
The diagnosis and the
resulting prognosis changed
life for all members of the
Stone family, most dramati-
cally for Malakai.
In order to combat this
highly aggressive disease,
Malakai will need to undergo
chemotherapy to prepare his
body for a bone marrow trans-
plant.
The procedure is long and
painful, and pitfalls and set-
backs are part of what the
Stones have been told to pre-
pare for in the upcoming bat-
tle to save Malakai’s life.
The cost of the multi-tiered
treatment plan is unclear at
this early stage of the process,
but it could reach $1 million,
an unknown percentage of
which the Stones will be
responsible for paying.
Stone said the family does
have health insurance, but the
unclarity surrounding the
structure and coverage of
health care in the country has
made the process of who pays
for these extremely expensive
procedures much less certain.
These unknown numbers
are not the immediate concern
for Stone, who wants to be
able to be with her son during
his treatment regimen, which
will be taking place in
Portland. The time she spends
with Malakai is time that she
is unable to work, and that
will dramatically affect the
family’s income.
That is the reason for the
Gifts of the Heart Auction —
to allow the Stones the flexi-
bility to be with Malakai, take
care of their daughters and
household and to pay for the
surgeries.
“The response from the
community has been over-
whelming in the most won-
derful way. Mark and I love
being a part of this communi-
ty,” Stone said. “We’ve seen it
pull together for other people
and we have been honored to
be a part of that for others in
the past. Now, being on the
receiving end of it is very dif-
ferent. It’s hard to ask for help
but the community has been
amazing.”
Also involved in the
fundraising effort, Siuslaw
Middle School Principal
Andy Marohl is hopeful that
the timing of the event will
allow residents to come out
and help the Stones.
“People can help out in sev-
eral ways. We would love for
a lot of people to come to the
auction on June 10 and bid on
items. We already have over
65 items donated by local
businesses and community
members, and there are many
local businesses that have jars
at their counters for people to
help donate,” Marohl said.
Donations can be made at
“Malakai’s Bone Marrow
Transplant”
account
at
Oregon Pacific Bank.
The family has also det up a
GoFundMe account for online
donations.
In addition, other fundrais-
ing options would be wel-
come as the family will likely
need
continued
support
through Malakai’s proce-
dures.
For more information on
participating in the Gifts of
the Heart Auction, email
shannongraham@me.com.
Utilities
going to happen on July 1
regardless of whether we
charge the consumer or not.
We won’t be able to recoup
that if we don’t start billing
for that on July 1.”
In other business, coun-
cilors voted to approve a bid
from
Pacific
Lamp
Wholesale, Inc. for $42,825
to retrofit the Florence Events
Center (FEC) to LED light-
ing.
FEC
Director
Kevin
Rhodes said, “In 2016,
Central Lincoln PUD con-
ducted an electrical audit of
the FEC’s existing lighting
fixtures and lamps and deter-
mined that the FEC qualifies
for a utility savings of up to
$30,000 by replacing the
existing incandescent lighting
with LED lighting.”
According to Rhodes,
Pacific Lamp Wholesale was
the only one of three vendors
that replied to a request for
bid.
“They are considered to be
a turnkey lighting contractor
and will handle the project
from start to finish,” Rhodes
said. “PUD’s estimated rebate
incentive is $22,660, leaving
a net cost to the city of
$20,165.”
The retrofit would include
all lighting except the theater
lighting, because Pacific
Lamp Wholesale does not do
theatrical lighting.
Rhodes said the nonprofit
Friends of the FEC have
applied for a matching grant
to cover the theater lighting
upgrade costs.
He said the FEC’s current
budget has allocated $45,000
for the retrofit and that the
theater lighting would qualify
for additional rebates.
Rhodes said the estimated
electrical bill savings would
be $400 per month, with a
return on investment in less
than five years.
“This is a smart move and a
good investment,” Rhodes
said.
ReVision
down the direct cost to the
city and urban renewal,”
Reynolds said.
She added that the city is
hoping Lane County will
cover all or a portion of the
current $1.3 million funding
gap.
“In addition to Lane
County, we have been work-
ing with ODOT. They went to
the Oregon Transportation
Commission, their funding
governing body, to request
additional funding for their
part of the project, as well as
additional funds for the city’s
portion,” Reynolds said.
During the May 31 FURA
budget meeting, the board
will consider the proposed
$7.4 million budget.
For more information on
ReVision Florence, visit
c i . f l o r e n c e . o r. u s / u r b a n
renewal/revision-florence.
from 1A
Central Coast Disposal
owner Dave Twombly said,
“Our half of a percent
(increase) on our gross is
We are community minded with a passion
for the people we serve.
member
541-997-7121 opbc.com
@OregonPacBank
Do your part and
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Volunteer•Get involved•Donate
Florence Food Share provides food to those
who are hungry in our community. If you have
four hours a week available, we are in need of
volunteers to staff our Front Desk and also act
as Guides as clients walk through the pantry.
Please call our volunteer coordinator, Gina Yates,
@ 541-997-9110 (Monday – Friday, before noon)
to learn more about volunteering. info@lorence-
foodshare.org 2190 Spruce Street.
Food Backpack for Kids
www.backpackimpact.org
Together, No
Child Will Go Hungry
www.backpackimpact.org
Together,
No Child Will Go Hungry
Your tax deductible donations helped
us feed 86 Florence/ Mapleton area children in April.
Please mail donations to: PO Box 3347, Florence, OR 97439.
For more information 541-997-2497.
from 1A
According to Reynolds, the
city currently has a funding
gap not being met from out-
side
sources
of
$2.9
million. FURA has the fund-
ing capacity to cover $1.6
million. That leaves $1.3
million to be covered by
either the city or a combina-
tion of other outside sources,
including Lane County and
ODOT.
“We are still in the process
of showing reasons why it
makes sense for the county to
invest in this west Lane infra-
structure project,” Reynolds
said. “Commissioners Farr,
Bozievich and Leiken were
very supportive of the proj-
ect.”
“If we get more outside
(funding), that would buy
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Assisting those in need in our Community.
Free Hot Meals Mon-Wed-Fri, 11:30 AM - 1 PM
NEW LOCATION SOON!
HELPING HANDS COALITION
United Methodist Church,
333 Kingwood, Florence
Call 541-997-5057 to Volunteer
Join the Peace Harbor Hospital Volunteers.
You will find an area of interest
in a caring organization.
Peace Harbor
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MEET MAX
Was found down in
Old Town. Finder took
into vet for treatment of
fl ea allergy dermatitis.
Finder would have kept
but highly allergic to
cats so kitty was brought
into shelter. He got along
with the fi nders dogs,
tolerates cats.
If you would like to meet Max or any of his
friends, please visit us at:
400 9th Street, Florence, OR 97439
541-997-8412 ext. 209
OREGON COAST HUMANE SOCIETY
2840 Rhododendron Drive • Florence • 541-997-4277
www.oregoncoasthumane.org
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Meals on Wheels are available to people over the
age of 60 who cannot get out much due to illness
or advanced age and who are not eating properly,
regardless of income. Cafe 60 is available for those
who prefer to make new friends in a dining room
setting.
7 A
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1570 Kingwood • PO Box 2313, Florence
541-997-5673
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