Dear Editor:

As most community members are aware from all of the publicity lately, Brandon Lewis of Semple Drive in North Huntingdon received a bone marrow transplant on Aug. 15.

Brandon was first diagnosed with leukemia during football camp in his senior year at Norwin. He has been receiving chemotherapy, even during his first year at Geneva College, where he received a football scholarship and was named to the dean's list for the spring semester.

After his father passed away, his leukemia became worse and necessitated the bone marrow transplant. Brandon was released from the hospital and was anxious to come home but could not.

His immune system has been compromised from the bone marrow transplant and he needs a near-sterile environment to recover.

Brandon and Brittney Lewis' parents are both deceased. Their mother died on Christmas day in 2001 from liver cancer, and their dad, Bucky, died this past spring from lung cancer.

Brandon, 20, and Brittney, 21, have been trying to stay in the home. Brittney has been left to carry the torch, trying to keep house, take care of her brother and work as a nurse's aid at UPMC Shadyside.

Because of illness, death and surmounting medical bills, the house has suffered from neglect and needed to be repaired, renovated and sanitized before Brandon could come home.

Earlier this month, countless local construction companies donated their time, talent and materials to perform the much-needed repairs on the home.

North Huntingdon police officers Sombo and Kucera have opened a bank account for the Lewis family.

Checks can be made out to the Brandon and Brittney Lewis Fund, care of First National Bank of Pennsylvania, 200 Clay Pike, North Huntingdon, PA 15642.

The account is being used to pay down the $97,000 mortgage on the home, held by Wells Fargo, or any other expenses related to the home, such as taxes or insurance.

Semple Drive neighbors of the Lewis family

The following are local businesses that have donated time, talent, labor, materials, food and money to make the homecoming of Brandon Lewis possible.

Restaurants/Merchants:

King's Family Restaurants

Sheetz of North Huntingdon

Giant Eagle (North Huntingdon)

Giant Eagle (Oak Park Mall)

First National Bank of PA

McDonald's (North Huntingdon Square)

McDonald's (Norwin Town Square)

Stratigos Banquet Facility

Chesterfield's Restaurant

Mr. Mike's Pizza & Pub

Sam's Club (Hempfield)

Pluma Restaurant

Panera Bread (North Huntingdon Square)?Kohl's Department Store (North Huntingdon)

Target (North Huntingdon)

Pizza & Gyro Express

Wal-Mart (North Versailles)

Herr's of Perryopolis

Bob Evans (North Huntingdon)

Eat'n Park of North Huntingdon

D.J. Kelly

Bull Dog Beer

Z's Beer

Walmart (Hempfield)

Johnston's Greenhouse, Inc.

Denny's Restaurant (Irwin)

Johnston the Florist

Pet Plus (North Huntingdon)

Organizations:

North Huntingdon Police Department

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church

Penn's Woods United Methodist Church

North Huntingdon EMS

Penns Woods Civic Association

Circleville Volunteer Fire Department

Larimer Volunteer Fire Department

Hartford Heights Volunteer Fire Department

Penn's Woods UMC Cub Scout Pack 250

Penn's Woods UMC Boy Scout Troop 250

Relay for Life

Norwin Rotary Club

Norwin Chamber of Commerce

Contractors/Community:

P. J. Petrarco -- FireDEX of Pittsburgh

Joe Hart -- GDC Jewelry/Huntingdon Development

Fergelec, Inc.

DenisCrete

NH Municipal Authority

Waste Management

R. Keith Parry Construction, Inc.

Air Duct Maintenance, Inc.

Staso Heating and Air Conditioning

Trane Furnace Company

Sherwin Williams

Ed Kohler, Ed Byers, and Chuck Schmidt (Roof)

Ryan Moving and Storage

Deak Construction

Ray Adams Photography

Kushner Contracting

Re-Bath of Cleveland

Campbell's Home Improvement

Shuster Building Components

Imperial Cleaning of Gibsonia

Pecora Floorings

Overhead Door Company of Greater Pgh.

Levin Furniture Company

Repal Construction and Repal Construction Office Staff

Lou Botti Contracting

A Better Choice Waterproofing

Vangura Laminated Products

Master Kleen Cleaning Services (Jeannette)

Vogue Limousine

Affordable Seamless Gutters

Perlinger Painting

Ken Hess Cabinetry

K. Bauer Construction

Zona Plumbing

84 Lumber

Irwin Builders Supply

Fejes Signs of Jeannette

Randolph Construction

Westmoreland Ponds & Water Gardens

Kathy Dobos -- Artist (CreativeLivingSpaces.com)

Kamdean International, LLC

Todd Gates

Also:

Caring neighbors, friends, and relatives of the Lewis family, including the Geneva College football team, and the many Norwin students that came to help.

Thanks to Father Rick from St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church for the blessing of the Lewis home.

...and a very special thank you to North Huntingdon Police Officer Bill Sombo for taking the time to care and for coordinating this massive effort to bring Brandon and Brittney back home.