Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 24, 1994 TAG: 9403240234
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BETSY BIESENBACH STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Terpenny family is luckier than many others in their situation. Often, when a family member has a chronic illness and is faced with an expensive medical procedure, insurance doesn't cover the entire bill, and families and friends have to resort to heroic fund-raising efforts. But Wally has a good policy through his employer, General Electric Corp., and his insurance will pay for the surgery.
But that doesn't mean the family has no worries. Jason is undergoing chemotherapy to keep him in remission until it's time for the surgery at the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City. The 16-hour ride is too long for the family to drive, Janis said, but they can't afford the air fare for the many trips they will need to make.
Wally, who will be Jason's bone marrow donor, must go to the hospital twice: once for testing, and once for the donation.
Then Jason and Janis need to get there for the surgery. They expect to be in Iowa for three to six months, if all goes well. The Terpennys are worried about the effect the separation will have on their family, particularly on Jason's younger brother, Jonathan, 6. If he and Wally could come to visit from time to time, it would make the situation easier, Janis said.
Each trip will cost $705, Janis said. They could get discounted tickets for much less, she said, but the fare is nonrefundable, and they don't know exactly when Jason's surgery will be scheduled.
So the Terpennys are asking business travelers and others who fly often to donate to the family frequent-flier miles they don't need.
United Airlines and USAir are the two carriers that fly from Roanoke to Iowa City, Wally said. After the donors receive the frequent-flier voucher from the airline - which takes about three to four weeks after they submit the request - all they need to do is go to the airport and sign it over to the Terpennys when the tickets are purchased.
Janis said potential donors also may be able to fax an authorization to the airline to save a trip to the airport. Wally could then take the voucher and pick up the tickets.
The airlines have been very cooperative, Janis said.
So far, the couple has appealed to co-workers, members of their church, and people they know from Jason's school, Cave Spring Elementary. One of Wally's colleagues has donated one ticket, which Wally will use for his first trip to Iowa, and others have donated tickets for Jason and Janis' trip.
Several Cave Spring parents are pilots, she said, and they also are looking into ways to help.
Jason is handling his illness "pretty well," Wally said, although Janis said he is too young to really understand what's going on.
His biggest fear is of losing his hair again, as he has after previous chemotherapy treatments. Otherwise, he is like most other 8-year-old boys. He loves to play Nintendo and likes to run around outside every chance he gets. Although he does well in school and is friendly and outgoing with children and other adults, he's "reserved" around his teachers, Janis said.
Although he feels bad much of the time, he has managed to keep up with his third-grade class. He is only a few days behind, and is being considered for enrollment in classes for gifted pupils.
Anyone wishing to donate frequent-flier miles to the Terpennys may call them at 772-7870.
by CNB