Apr 2: Letter from the Hampton Inn Plantation

Hello everyone. We need help for a co-worker whose 18-month girl, Makayla, was diagnosed with full-blown leukemia last week. She was admitted to Joe DiMaggio Hospital here in Hollywood, Florida on Easter Sunday. Lilly Fermin is a single mother who is raising this baby by herself. Before all this, she was working two jobs, 60 hours a week. Lilly lives from paycheck to paycheck and is not working now due to Makayla's illness. In the last 9 days, Makayla has had 3 blood transfusions and 3 sessions of chemo. Can you imagine what this child is going through? And Lilly?

Makayla cannot walk because the cancer has spread so badly into her blood system. 100% of her blood is infected. And she cannot speak yet, so we do not know what she is thinking or feeling, yet you can see it in her eyes. That wide-eyed wonder and amazement you see in a child is gone, it is only blank. Lilly has to take Makayla to chemo two times a week for the next 4 years. That is how long it will take to cure this, G-d Willing. Yesterday was the baby's 3rd chemo, Lilly was to go to work last night. But Makalya's reaction was so bad, she had to stay with her. So the income from yesterday is gone. That is the biggest problem. Lilly needs money to pay her bills, to make her car payment so that the car is not repossessed and she can take the baby to the hospital.

We have called the local tv stations, we were on the local CBS affiliate last Friday and raised about $1,000. Next Monday, the local ABS Channel 10 is also airing a story. The Hampton Inn Plantation is trying to raise funds to help this family. We are reaching out to the hospitality community. Whatever you can send to me to give to her would be truly a blessing. We have established a fund at the Hampton Inn Plantation. It is called the "Makayla Miracle Fund."

Whatever donation you can find in your heart to send me would be truly a way to help this miracle happen. We want to see Makayla smile and laugh. You can send your donation to me at home or at the hotel to my attention. The check should be made to Lilly Fermin (please do not make the donation out to the Miracle Fund -- it is an unofficial name). We are also taking credit card donations, you can email me or call me with your number, expiration and amount. We created a special form so that you can get a receipt mailed to you. We are not an official charity doing fundraising, so we had to be creative to get the funds to her.

Here is my info:Susan Stern, Hampton Inn Plantation, 7801 SW 6th Street, Plantation, Florida 33324, sstern@princebush.com, 954-382-4500 ex 160, 954-382-4510 fax. We thank you all for your help. Hopefully, my next email about Makayla and Lilly will have good and happy news. Send your prayers. Love and bless you, Susan Stern, Hampton Inn Plantation