Liberty Christian student pens award-winning essay

Fourth-grader Jacob Gane, 10, from Liberty Christian School in Huntington Beach, won a Thanksgiving essay contest with his story of how he gave his bone marrow to save his older brother’s life.

Though he was scared, Jacob wrote, “If it means saving my brother, I’ll do it.”

Jacob earned a $1,000 U.S. savings bond from Stonefire Grill in its second annual Thanksgiving-themed essay writing contest, where he beat out approximately 1,000 elementary students from across Southern California.

In second place was Brandon Krause, 10, a second-grader from Courreges Elementary School in Fountain Valley, who received a $500 savings bond.

The essays were evaluated on content, style and composition.

For more information, visit stonefiregrill.com. To view Jacob’s essay, visit www.hbindependent.com.

Candice Baker

The Miracle

By Jacob Gane

I’m thankful for my bone marrow! You might ask, “Why bone marrow?” It’s because it saved my brother’s life! After school my dad said, “Luke has a disease called aplastic anemia. It’s when you have low platelets, and bone marrow. You twins are brothers who match. Who wants to give the bone marrow transplant?” I raised my hand as fast as I could. “I do! I do!” I said. “Are you sure?” my dad asked. “Yes! Yes!” I said. The TV Station FSN came to interview my family because Luke plays football for Edison. On September 2, 2008, the day of the bone marrow transplant, I was excited, but scared. I was the very definition of fear, but I managed to do it. The worse thing is that they drilled a hole into my back. I told my dad if it means saving my brother I’d do it.

My brother was in the hospital for almost three months. Now he is home after going through chemo and on the road to recover. I am very glad that the bone marrow transplant was successful. Now you know the answer to your question, “Why bone marrow?”