KTUU.com | Alaska's news and information source | Baby battling disease gets new hope

Baby battling disease gets new hope

by Megan Baldino
Tuesday, July 29, 2008

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- There was some good news this week for an Anchorage family whose 13-month-old daughter is fighting a rare disease in a Seattle hospital.

Lucy Latta has a rare form of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Disease or SCID.

Eden Latta says his daughter has no immune system. The Latas recently learned Lucy's sister is a match for a bone marrow transplant. An operation is scheduled for mid-August.

Still, friends say the family's house is in foreclosure and the medical bills are mounting.

Eden says it has not been easy.

"My hopes right now are the transplant works and she makes a full recovery, which the doctors are pretty sure that she will be able to make a full recovery," Eden said.

"We love them," said Nichole Alch, who is helping organize a fundraiser. "Who wouldn't want to do something for someone you feel like is your family?"

The With Love for Lucy Latta Fundraiser will be Wednesday night at Anchorage Lutheran Church, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 a plate.

There is also an auction and raffle.

Contact Megan Baldino at mbaldino@ktuu.com