By Michelle Knight knight@theacorn.com

michael coons/Simi Valley Acorn HOPE FOR THE FUTURE-Alberto Calero was diagnosed with leukemia in 2002. He went into remission, but doctors recently found new malignant cells.

The news Linda Brown heard one August day in 2002 was the worse she could possibly have imagined. Her teenage son, Alberto Calero, was diagnosed with leukemia, a bone marrow cancer.

He immediately underwent radiation and chemotherapy treatments, and last year, the Simi Valley resident received good news—a biopsy revealed his disease was in remission. The treatments were successful, and mother and son shed tears of joy and relief.

But the good news didn’t last. Earlier this year, doctors found malignant cells had once again invaded Calero’s 21-year old body. Brown, however, didn’t give into despair, but instead launched an all out campaign to save her son’s life.

She contacted Calero’s father and paternal relatives in Ecuador. They were tested as possible bone marrow donors, but didn’t yield a match.

ADAM DAVIS/Simi Valley Acorn

Brown also joined forces with one of the most recognized names in cancer research, the City of Hope, and the service group, the Knights of Columbus, to hold a bone marrow drive for Calero. Testing was held last Saturday at St. Rose of Lima church in Simi Valley.

Minorities especially were encouraged to participate, said Yvette Hernandez, City of Hope spokeswoman. Another Hispanic is more likely to be compatible with Calero because of similar DNA, she said.

Bone marrow testing is often thought to be an invasive procedure. It is not, according to Hernandez. The test can be as simple as a finger prick to see if DNA compatibility exists in the blood. If it does, the person is asked to donate blood in a nearly painless outpatient procedure. From the donated blood, "miracle-worker" stem cells are extracted, whichare turned into the cells that the patient needs.

Calero’s part of the bone marrow transplant, on the other hand, involves a three month stay in the hospital.

COMMUNITY CARES-Above, volunteers sign up for bone marrow testing at a drive hosted last weekend at St. Rose of Lima Parish Hall by the Knights of Columbus Simi Valley Council No. 5803. At left are Linda Brown, mother of leukemia patient Alberto Calero, and Paul Freideborn, the bone marrow drive event chairman.

Brown said she feels disappointed that no match has been found among the millions of names listed in the national registry of bone marrow donors.

Nevertheless, the nursing assistant remains dedicated to saving her son, though taking him to cancer treatments in Los Angeles, sometimes several times a week, means being away from her job and missing out on time with her two other children, James, 14, and Janiece, 12.

"I do believe in miracles," said Brown hopefully.

Feeling weak from his treatments, Calero said he was forced to stop attending college, which led to depression. He had hoped to enter the nursing program at Moorpark College.

Despite the obstacles he faces, Calero remains confident a bone marrow match can be found.

"I feel great that they’re doing it," he said.

Paul Freideborn, Knights of Columbus spokesman, said he and others have contacted various groups, such as the fire and police departments and the Kiwanis and Rotary clubs, for participation in the test and help in getting the word out.

"It’s just amazing . . . the support we’ve gotten," Freideborn said.

Freideborn is unsure what the next step will be after Saturday’s test. "It would be nice to see it continue—to continue the momentum."

Freideborn said his organization exists to help people just like Calero.

"That’s our purpose," he said.