The Sweet Home community turned out to A&W March 31 to raise about $1,500 for Cooper Miller, 6, who may have developed complications in his fight against JMML leukemia.
A&W donated 15 percent of its sales over three hours to the family, a total of $600. Customers donated an additional $900.
Cooper, the son of Chester and Kerry Miller, received bone marrow transplants in August and January.
“We didn’t cure it,” Kerry Miller said. His white blood cell count is up, and doctors are trying a new medication to keep that count down. The medicine is supposed to kill the leukemia cells.
The family will not know the results until Cooper’s next biopsy, Miller said, but it could be a cure.
“It’s really rare, what he has,” she said. It’s about one in 10,000 cases of leukemia.
“We’re just hoping this medicine works, and hopefully it can cure,” she said. “He’s been feeling really good, playing with his brother all the time.”
The family has insurance, but it doesn’t cover all of the medical costs, she said. Plus, she has taken a leave of absence from Hawthorne School where she is a kindergarten assistant, and Cooper’s father has had to miss work at Overhead Doors; and the illness comes with additional expenses, such as travel.
The community raised more than $10,000 for the family last year through events that included a concert and a rummage sale.
“We appreciate it very much,” she said, noting that her friend Dawn Valloni has been instrumental in the effort.
Donations may be given directly to the Cooper family at Umpqua Bank, the Cooper Miller Benefit Account.