July 1, 2002--
A 16-year-old boy who needs a transplant to save his life, is finding support all around the country, as well as a small town in rural Mexico.
Friends and family living in Camargo, Mexico have already raised 25-thousand dollars as a partial downpayment to get him what he needs.
News Specialist Ed Yeates has the story from Heber City.
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Donations:
- Make an Online Donation
(National Foundation for Transplants)
- or Mail to:
National Foundation for Transplants
Uriel Aldaz Fund
P.O. Box 668
Heber City, Ut 84032
For More Information:
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Uriel (Ooree -el) Aldaz will celebrate his 16th birthday tonight a long way from home. Instead of a party in Camargo - he's here in Utah trying to raise enough money to pay for a bone marrow transplant - his only hope to survive Leukemia. He's staying with his uncle's family in Heber City. IHC Home Care is helping out.
Greg Grass / Uriel's Uncle - GREG GRASS, URIEL'S UNCLE: "EVERY MEMBER OF THE FAMILY HAS SENT UP THEIR LIFE SAVINGS. ALFREDO HAS SOLD VIRTUALLY EVERY PERSONAL BELONGING. -edit to 11:53- OTHER THAN THE HOUSE THEY LIVE IN, THEY'VE PRETTY MUCH GIVEN UP EVERYTHING FOR THIS."
Uriel needs 260 thousand dollars for the transplant.
The people in Camargo, Mexico have already raised 25 thousand dollars and sent the money here as a partial down payment.
Primary Children's Hospital has agreed to donate 100 thousand dollars but only after the remaining money is available. David Grass is our translator.
-Alfredo Aldaz / Uriel's Father
ALFREDO ALDAZ / URIEL'S FATHER: "SPEAKING IN SPANISH, "IT'S REALLY HARD. IT'S A SITUATION WHERE WE ARE FIGHTING AGAINST TIME. -edit to 4:47- THE WHOLE COMMUNITY IS HELPING AND GOD WILL GIVE US A HAND AND WE'LL GET OUT OF THIS AND GO THROUGH THIS."
If Uriel gets the transplant and pulls through this..
Uriel Aldaz - "SPEAKING IN SPANISH - HE WOULD LIKE TO STUDY, GO BACK TO SCHOOL, GO BACK TO HIS COUNTRY - HIS FRIENDS AND FAMILY - AND WORK AND DO THE BEST HE CAN."
The Aldaz's have a long way to go but are getting support from some businesses.
ED YEATES, EYEWITNESS NEWS: "THE SNAKE CREEK GRILL HERE WILL SPONSOR A SPECIAL FUNDRAISER ON MONDAY WHERE THE PUBLIC CAN SAMPLE FOOD AND BEVERAGES FROM SOME OF THE BEST RESTAURANTS IN THE STATE. ED YEATES, EYEWITNESS NEWS, HEBER CITY."
