Young man stricken by leukemia

A young family man has been suddenly struck by a serious disease, without insurance, leading to an effort by friends and family to raise funds to help pay the bills.

George Davis III, 29, lives in Wilbur, works for a farmer in Coulee City and was raised in the Grand Coulee area.

Friday before last, he came home tired and weak, and he was bruising. His wife, Amber, took him to Coulee Medical Center, from which he was quickly transferred by ambulance to Holy Family Hospital in Spokane.

Davis was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia. He is receiving transfusions of plasma and platelets, blood filtration that removes the cancerous white blood cells, and chemotherapy.

He'll be in the hospital for three to four weeks. Amber Davis is commuting back and forth to their home in Wilbur, where their children are, and to Grand Coulee, where she works at the Moose Lodge.

That lodge has already raised some funds for the family and is planning a dinner to raise more in coming weeks. The lodge has raised over $3,000 so far in donations from poker players and collections taken at the door.

"Unfortunately, George has no medical coverage and will not be able to work for at least the next four weeks," a statement from the lodge says. "We ask that, if possible, you please donate whatever you can and send your prayers to George and his family. Anything and everything is appreciated."

An account for collecting donations has been set up at North Cascades Bank, according to Kathy Baty, of Moose Lodge 504. Checks for the George Davis Donation Fund should be made out to Amber Davis.

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