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Patrick “Pat” Pedraja , the son of Miami-Dade Police Department Narcotics Detective William Pedraja and Claudine Andrews, is a boy with big dreams and the ambition to make those dreams come true. But his dreams are different than most 11-year-old’s. His dream is to save lives and he is asking for some help.
Before he was diagnosed in 2006 with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a cancer of the white blood cells, Pat was the fastest runner in his fourth grade class and he loved to play hockey. After a year of painful suffering, bone breaks, wheel chair confinement, numerous doctor visits, ER trips and specialist appointments in other cities, Pat was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. Still, his family suspected something else was wrong. Then, Pat developed new symptoms including fever, and backaches and the test results didn't make sense. Pat became so sick he was admitted to Joe DiMaggio's Children's Hospital. After reviewing the results, the doctor broke the news - it was leukemia, a disease that is the number one killer for children ages 2-14.
“How do you tell a child that he has cancer?” said William Pedraja . “The only thing Pat knew about cancer was that he'd lost both his grandparents to cancer.” Law enforcement officers face many scary situations. It's part of the job. But for Det. Pedraja , the scariest thing he'd ever have to do was look into his son's eyes as the doctor told Pat the diagnosis.
Pat digested the information and the next day turned to his father and said. “I'm glad this happened to me. I'm glad I got leukemia. Having leukemia is going to teach me something, I don't know what it is yet, but I'm going to learn something from this, a lesson that I will need to know in my life , and this will make me stronger.”
Pat underwent rigorous chemotherapy treatments and within two months, he not only could walk but play hockey. “I think God gave me this because another little boy would not be strong enough as me to fight it,” said Pat.
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While in the hospital, Pat watched a show that changed his life. “20/20” aired a program about entrepreneur Farrah Gray, whose sister, Greek Gray, had leukemia and couldn't find a donor because of a shortage of minority donors on the National Registry. Several weeks later, Greek Gray had passed away. Patrick, who is half Hispanic and half Irish, took Greek Grey's death hard and worried that one day he might need a donor and there would be no match for him. Pat felt that he needed to do something to help raise awareness. He first thought about holding a bone marrow drive, but that wasn't big enough. “He said, ‘Let's do a marrow drive,’” says Pat's mom, Claudine Andrews. “But him being Pat, he said, ‘No, let's do a national marrow drive.’ He pulled out a map and mapped out 25 cities, which has now turned into a 31-city national tour called “Driving for Donors.”’ Now that Pat had the idea, he needed to make it happen. Pat's first grand fundraising scheme came when he started to lose his hair from the chemotherapy. “It was a big thing,” said Pat, “I loved my hair.”
But his new bald look became his inspiration. If he could get companies to advertise on his head, then he could use the money for a good cause - to go around the country and raise awareness. Suddenly TV and radio stations were calling for interviews. They wanted to know: who was this 11 year-old with the great advertising idea? Unfortunately, the eBay ad did not sell and Pat's spirits sank. Why, he asked, would someone pay $10,000 for a ride on a float at a parade in Miami, but no one wanted to pay $5,000 to advertise and actually help him save lives? He asked himself, ‘What was wrong with these people?’
Pat reposted the auction and a company in San Diego, CA called All Road Communications, which specializes in satellite phone sales and service, bought the head ad for $5,100. “I'm amazed that with everything he is going through, he's wanted to help others who aren't educated about marrow donation. He's a really special kid and we are so proud of him,” said William Pedraja.
Now, Pat's determination to raise money and awareness has him headed to New York to tape a segment for Access Hollywood's ‘Access to a Dream,’ and, on April 7th, he will throw out the first pitch at the Marlin's Game as his photo and awareness information appear on the Jumbotron . Pat is even writing a children's book entitled, “Where is your hair?” with the hope that kids will better understand what it's like to have cancer and feel different than ‘healthy’ kids.
Pat's quest to increase awareness is off to a good start, but he knows it's going to be a challenge. That's why he still needs your help.
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Help Make Pat's Dream Come True
Pat's dream is now known as “Driving for Donors,” and he and his family are set to visit numerous cities throughout the country with the hope of adding 2007 names to the National Bone Marrow registry this year. Driving for Donors will hold a kick-off event on May 7, at Miami-Dade Police Headquarters. All that is required is a cheek swab. Monetary donations to Driving for Donors are tax deductible and, if you are already a donor, you can show your support by purchasing a “Save a Life Voucher,” which will help fund tissue testing. This will be the first law enforcement marrow donor drive of its kind. Law enforcement departments in 25 cities have agreed to help them with drives in major cities such as Miami, Orlando, Atlanta, Dallas, Washington D.C., New York, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Denver, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix. RV Sales of Broward donated a RV. Now the family needs to raise about $140,000 for tissue-typing tests ($52 per person), publicity costs and travel. “I just hope people remember that everyone can do something to help save a life if they do their part,” said Pat. “I want people to know that they could save a life...the life of a kid like me, just by signing up.”
The Dade County PBA is a proud sponsor of Driving for Donors and is helping Pat raise awareness. “Here is a kid that we could all learn so much from. He is a true hero and inspiration. We are proud to stand with him and support his dream, and I'm asking our brothers and sisters in law enforcement show up to support Pat’s dream too,” stated John Rivera.
For more information on how you can help, contact Stephanie Womble at: (305) 593-0044, William Pedraja at: (305) 986-3499 or visit Pat's website at www.drivingfordonors.com |
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