'The sweetest, kindest girl at Fernan'

By DEVIN WEEKS

Staff Writer

A bone marrow transplant can cost up to $300,000.

Another $10,000 to more than $50,000 may be required to cover the cost to search for a donor, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration.

That's upward of $350,000 in urgent medical expenses the Robles family is facing as 11-year-old daughter Serina undergoes a bone marrow transplant while fighting leukemia for the second time in her short life.

"She's doing OK for the time-being," Serina's father, Ray Robles of Coeur d'Alene, said Friday. "It's just the beginning, and she's already been through a lot."

It's a significant blow to the family's finances. Without health insurance or paid medical leave, Serina's family faces mounting bills as they help her get through her treatment.

"We had to leave everything behind. Our whole house is packed up in storage," Ray said. "There's going to be a lot of expenses, medical bills. We’re not sure what’s covered and what will be left, but it will be a significant amount."

The support from the community has been a ray of hope for the incoming Fernan STEM Academy fifth-grader, her parents and her siblings.

A lemonade and goodies stand Friday in front of the school brought in more than $5,700. 

"Our Fernan community is really tight-knit, so once we heard Serina was sick, everybody came out," said Marie Nail, whose daughter, Emmie, goes to school with Serina. "We knew we had to do something to help this little girl, who is the sweetest, kindest girl at Fernan."

"I’ve been in class with Serina since kindergarten. She's always been a friend to me and others," Emmie said. "I hope the lemonade stand shows that everyone wants to support her and her family."

Nail said the community showed up to the lemonade stand in a big way. The stand was stocked and staffed by Fernan teachers and parents.

"So many generous people giving $50, $100, $500 and one gentleman $1,000," Nail reported. "I called Ray with the update. They were so humbled and honored. They said these funds will help them on the weekends before Serina is in-patient and in isolation."

The family — Mom, Dad and little sisters Savannah and Nevaeh — will be staying in a Ronald McDonald House in Seattle for at least three months. Serina will be treated with chemotherapy and possibly radiation as doctors condition her body for the transplant, which has been tentatively scheduled for Sept. 17.

Mail letters, cards or gifts to Serina Robles at: Ronald McDonald House, 5130 40th Ave. NE, Seattle, WA 98105.

The family can accept direct donations at their bank (Serina Robles Fund-via Ray Robles): Horizon Credit Union-Silver Lake Mall, 123 W. Hanley Ave., Coeur d'Alene, ID 83815.