By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

HALF a million dollars is standing between 5-year-old Zion Knowles and getting a much needed bone marrow transplant.

Jason and Ancilla Knowles were told by doctors in May that their daughter was no longer in remission in her fight with leukemia and it was also discovered that she was now a diabetic.

As it stands, the family faces around $300,000 in expenses from Zion’s continuing chemotherapy treatments. If they cannot show proof that $500,000 is readily available to finance the transplant, the Miami Children’s Hospital will not finalise the procedure.

“It’s even more difficult,” Mr Knowles said, “because we have no more insurance. The last time, we had insurance to cover most of her bills.

“But the insurance has been exhausted so we are paying everything out of pocket. We deal with the hospital directly now and they contact us on a regular basis for some form of payment.”

Zion, who remains in high spirits despite her medical condition, was first diagnosed with the disease last year which affects blood cells and can cause infection. But by September 2012, doctors said Zion was responding well to treatments and they expected her to make a full recovery.

However, the Knowles family knew something was wrong when Zion began to show symptoms that were familiar with her first run with leukemia.

“Zion had begun her maintenance stage in January and she was cleared to come home in March. She was home for a few months until May when we noticed she had some symptoms again such as pain and fever.

“We returned to Miami at that time for a follow-up visit and were advised that she had relapsed.”

The family is appealing to corporate Bahamas to make any form of sponsorship in aid of Zion’s medical expenses.

Anyone who would rather donate anonymously can electronically wire funds to the Miami Children’s Hospital. Details of how it can be done are on Zion’s Facebook page - www.facebook.com/hopeforzionknowles.

A concert to raise money is also planned for 7 pm next Friday, July 12. It will be held at Loyola Hall at Gladstone Road with special guests performances by Christian Massive, Landlord, Charlie Da Yellow Bird, and the RBDF Pop Band among others.

Persons requiring more information can email Jason Knowles at jasonhknowles@gmail.com.