Cameron Hardy fundraiser canceled

A fundraiser this month at the Governor's Mansion to benefit a Carson City teen battling leukemia has been canceled.

Cameron Hardy's sister Chelsea Hardy said organizers wanted more time to plan the right event. No new time has been set, but Chelsea said they are looking at a date in January.

Cameron, 19, is at U.C. Davis Medical Center in Sacramento recovering from a cord-blood transplant.

The Carson High graduate was diagnosed in January with acute myeloid leukemia, a rapidly progressing cancer of the blood. According to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, only 20.7 percent of the people diagnosed with AML survive five years.

A first round of chemotherapy knocked the disease into remission in March 2007, but within 11 months Cameron had relapsed.

In June, more than 300 people showed up to be tested in the search for a bone marrow match for Cameron.

When no match was found, doctors decided to try a cord-blood transplant, said mother, Michele Lynn.

On Sept. 2, Cameron underwent the procedure. He is expected to remain in the hospital for another two weeks before moving into housing nearby, Michelle said.

"It's been hard. A lot harder than we anticipated. He has a lot of pain," she said during a brief visit home on Friday afternoon. Michele has been staying by her son's side since his admission to the hospital.

She said she's been relying on the kindness of friends and family to help take care of her three school-aged children at home. Her oldest daughter Chelsea lives on her own.

"It is still unclear as to how much longer Cam will be in the hospital, but we are thinking another two weeks. He will then need a caregiver (me), and we will see what occurs from there," Michele wrote in an e-mail.

Cameron can receive letters at Attn: Cameron Hardy, U.C. Davis Medical Center, 2315 Stockton Blvd. Sacramento, CA 95817.

To help offset the family's expenses, you can make a donation to the Cameron Hardy Fund at Greater Nevada Credit Union, account number 887522.