‘Pennies for Patients’ fundraiser at Woodland schools

A pair of Woodland Elementary District 50 schools are trying to raise money for blood-cancer research as the son of two employees fights the disease.

Labeled “Pennies for Patients,” Woodland intermediate and middle schools are participating in the fundraising effort. “Pennies for Patients” started May 17 and will run through May 27.

“Pennies for Patients” has a tie to Jennifer and James Silasiri and the couple’s son, Micha James. Jennifer works at Woodland Intermediate and James at Woodland Middle.

Micha was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia just a day after turning 6 months old. Since that time, he has gone through five rounds of chemotherapy and endured five major surgeries.

Three of the times, Micah was in the hospital for neurosurgery. He’s had numerous tests, daily blood draws and various other minor complications along the way.

At the end of his fifth and final round of chemotherapy, the leukemic cells returned in Micah’s central spinal fluid. Since the leukemia has returned, Micah’s next option is a stem cell transplant — if a donor match can be found.

“Through all of this, Micah has never lost his smile,” Jennifer said.

All of the money collected through “Pennies for Patients” will be donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The mission of this organization is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma.

Containers for the “Pennies for Patients” fundraiser will be in the main hall and classrooms at Intermediate School, 1115 N. Hunt Club Road, Gurnee, and the main office and homeroom classrooms at Middle School, 7000 Washington St., Gurnee.

For details, contact Amy Werner at Woodland Intermediate School, (847) 596-5900, or Woodland Middle School’s Linda Kastilahn, (847) 856-3400.