PORT ANGELES — A support fund has been established for Jazmin Nicolaysen, a Port Angeles 5-year-old who is battling a rare bone-eating disease, her mother announced Wednesday.
Donations to the Jazmin Nicholaysen Fund will help Kristina Van Auken cover her daughter’s medical expenses, which include weekly rounds of chemotherapy at Seattle Children’s Hospital.
The account was set up at First Federal, a locally owned community banking institution with branches in Port Angeles, Sequim, Port Townsend and Forks.
The checking account number for the Jazmin Nicholaysen Fund is 0349810911, Van Auken said.
Jazmin suffers from Langerhans cell histiocytosis, a cancer-like disease that forms tumors on bones and organs. It occurs when Langerhans cells grow so fast that they damage the body instead of protecting it.
The disease affects only about 1 in 200,000 kids.
Jazmin was diagnosed with LCH after experiencing a sharp ear pain in February.
Doctors determined that the condition had eaten half of her right inner-ear bone.
The child has lost her hair as a result of the ongoing chemotherapy. Van Auken and others have shaved their own heads to show support.
Jazmin loves school, her mother said. She graduated from Little Sprouts Christian Preschool on Friday.
She refused to miss class despite the taxing chemotherapy and drug regimen.
Jazmin has another year of chemotherapy ahead.
The good news is 80 percent to 90 percent of children recover from LCH with treatment.
More information on LCH is available from Seattle Children’s at www.tinyurl.com/73dvpzd.
Donations can be made in person at or through the mail to any branch of First Federal.
For more information about First Federal, visit www.ourfirstfed.com.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.