STAR, Idaho (STPNS) -- Wes Belau (Be-Law) is our class? hero because of the sacrifice that he has made for his family and the way that he is a friend to us.

    Wes has a story that will make you remember what is the most important in life and we want to share this with you.

    Wes came to Star, Idaho in October of this year to live with his grandparents, Fred and Peggy Belau. His two younger sisters also came to live in Idaho at this time. The reason for their move was because their two-year brother, Dayne, was suffering from an immune disorder and he needed to be hospitalized in a different state. Wes? parents needed to stay with Dayne and take care of him. Dayne needed a bone marrow transplant in order to be saved. It was discovered that Wes was a perfect bone marrow match for Dayne. This meant that Wes would soon be known as the ?family pin-cushion.?



    Wes was flown back to the hospital where Dayne was and they took some bone marrow from him to give to his brother. Wes describes this experience as, ?First, they put me to sleep, next thing I remember I woke up to a noisy hospital. My throat was dry and I needed a drink. I threw up after drinking some soda. I was sore from where they put the needles in. And I was limping around for about a week after the procedure.?  Wes came back to school happy that the bone marrow transplant was over and mostly happy that he had been able to help his brother.

    Wes needed to give more of his blood to his brother throughout the rest of the school year. He went to a local hospital and then they send the blood to the Children?s Hospital where Dayne could receive it. Wes explained that the maximum amount of blood taken one time was up to 21 tubes. These blood donations are helping Dayne accept the new bone marrow.

    Dayne is getting better each day and all of the siblings will be reunited in sixteen days! Wes will be leaving Star, Idaho at the end of the school year and will be able to live with his parents and all his siblings again!

    Our class is impressed with the way that Wes handled this difficult time. He has been an amazing friend and incredible learner in spite of missing his parents and brother. His grandparents in Star and in Meridian have been wonderful for all of the siblings that stayed in Idaho. We are thankful that they have such a supportive family. Our class will miss Wes, but we are happy for him!

Mrs. Diffenbaugh?s Third Grade Class Star Elementary - May 15, 2008