It's never easy

Having recently dealt with a death in my family, I've heard a lot of people tell me dealing with it is never easy. Even when it is common, I think that's true. I've been to a lot of funerals and sat with a lot of families during times like these, and none are ever quite the same. And I'm never totally prepared to accept that someone is gone.

So I know the family and friends of Ethan Powell are struggling now. So many people throughout the country and even outsides its borders cared about this child who died Saturday from leukemia.

I first learned about him because he went to a daycare center my mother used to run. She just got back from a trip to Europe, and I hated to tell her Ethan had passed. I even posted a blog almost a year ago when Noel Methodist Church hosted one of a couple bone marrow testing sites.

People wanted him to pull through.

Obviously his story will live on. From what his dad has posted, Ethan's parents will work to help find a cure for other children. That is noble tribute.

There's still time to have your bone marrow tested

If you missed the free bone marrow testing drive at Sam's Town the other day, you can still make it to one at Noel United Methodist Church in Highland. About 200 had been tested by 2:30 p.m.

The purpose of the drive is to see if you can help Ethan Powell, a 4-month-old from Shreveport who has leukemia. The testing normally costs $45. Read more about that in Mary Jimenez's story from the other day.

It's easy, and you just might help save a little boy's life. Granted you should be willing to actually donate the marrow (which is a surgical procedure) if you get tested and added to the national list. They'll contact you if you are ever a match for someone on a local waiting list.

Anyway, I finished the whole testing process in about 15 minutes. It's open until 7 p.m. Here's how you do it:

Fill out your donation papers (and watch a short video).

Swab the inside of your mouth with four Q-tip-like objects.

Put the swabs in their packet and envelope.


Seal it.

Drop it in the box. You'll be contacted if you're a match.