Meet Zeke
Zeke came to UVA Children’s for cancer treatment just as the COVID-19 Pandemic began in 2020 which kept him isolated from his family for over a month.
In April 2020 we welcomed the Puigs, a family we can describe in a word–JOYFUL! Six-year-old Zeke has Accute Myeloid Leukemia, a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. He underwent chemotherapy, and, due to Covid-19, was not able to see his family in person for over a month. Mom, Dad, Aunt and 3 siblings, known as the Puiglets, were only able to visit him through the glass at UVA Hospital!
Zeke’s parents and grandparents stayed at the Yellow Door VOGA House, sponsored by the Virginia Oil and Gas Association, throughout his chemo treatment. Then they went on to Philadelphia for a transplant, with his younger sister as his donor! We plan to welcome them back after that.
“Our family had the opportunity to stay at one of the YELLOW DOOR apartments in April 2020. Our son Zeke was inpatient at UVA hospital receiving Chemotherapy for MDS/AML. The nation was shutting down due to COVID-19, making housing quite the challenge. The minute I spoke with JoAnne at Yellow Door, she was full speed ahead at working to get our family in a home together. The minute we walked in to the YDF apartment, we were overwhelmed. Yellow Door has worked so hard to provide a clean & germ-free space for families. This is always a relief for families, but with COVID exploding, it was especially true.
Yellow Door does much more than just provide a home. It gifted our family time and memories. The apartment is stunning with little touches that just bring joy from the burst of color on the patio, to the large beanbag and basket of kids things, to the comfortable pillows that are far better than the plastic wrapped hospital ones. These little things show the personal care of the people behind Yellow Door. You feel the love and care from the minute Yellow Door connects with you.
Our stay was filled with nature walks around the complex, father-daughter date days on the porch, laughter on the playgrounds, snuggles to Netflix, and rest in the cozy apartment. We are so thankful for the way Yellow Door, and especially Joanne, provides for families in the midst of a personal health crisis. They relieved a financial burden and provided a home away from home.
Much love from the Puig family!”
Zeke is dancing in the face of cancer.
Way to go Zeke!
Help More Families
The Yellow Door Foundation can only continue providing critical support to families through generous donations.