To the Members of the Vernon Fire Department,

On behalf of my entire family, we would like to thank you for your recent donation to the children's medical account. It is greatly appreciated and has touched us very deeply.

As some of you know, both of our children Rachel (age 7) and Michael (age 3) were diagnosed in November of 1999 with a terminal disease called Fanconi Anemia.  While this news has been difficult for us, we get through each day with the support of friends like you.  Thank-you.

We are currently in Minneapolis, Minnesota where Rachel has to undergo a bone marrow transplant to save her life.  We are hopeful of the outcome, but the future is uncertain.  If you would like to keep up with our progress you can log onto a web site we set up for Rachel.  It is at www.caringbridge.com/page/rachel.

Thanks again for everything.  We hope to be back in Connecticut sometime in late August.

Sincerely,
Mel & Jackie Hardy

This is a scanned photo of a thank you card recently received by the Town of Vernon Firefighters Association.
These are our new friends Michael and Rachel. They are the children born with Fanconi Anemia. The whole family recently left Vernon to live in Minnesota where Rachel is undergoing preparation for a bone marrow transplant in the coming weeks. This procedure will require the family to stay in the Minneapolis area for the next six months to one year.
We urge you to go to any one of the Fanconi Anemia websites (www.fanconi.org) to learn more about this rare and devastating childhood disease.
Please remember them in your thoughts and prayers. Anonymous donations can be made at anytime through Rockville Bank. Just ask for the RMH Foundation account number.

-3-