92 • Our Town 39042
Brandon High SchoolSupports Make-A-Wish MississippiMelanie McMillanRankin County is a place where communitymembers are quick to pitch in to help those in need.It’s one of the reasons so many call Rankin home,where examples of neighbor helping neighborare plentiful. Whether you’re a “native” RankinCountian or a “transplant,” you’re family here.Josh and Liza Forbes moved to RankinCounty from Louisiana eight years ago whenJosh accepted a position at Nissan. Stay-at-homemom Liza stayed busy with their two boys and thefamily settled into their new home and community.They have since welcomed two more sons to thefamily and are the proud parents of Jude, 10,Jacob, 9, Jonah, 4, and Jesse 1. They enjoy camping,traveling, and just spending time together.Nothing could have prepared the happy familyfor the news they would receive two years ago.In March of 2018, the family spent theirspring break in Tennessee. While they were there,the older boys got a cold but Jonah seemed fine.When they returned home, Jonah began to runfever. Liza assumed he had caught a cold fromhis brothers and didn’t think much about it.However, the fever continued for several days,spiking every night. Seemingly unrelated, Jonahhad begun to bruise more than normal for a twoyear old. Because he is very fair and red-haired,not to mention a typical “rough and tumble” boy,Josh and Liza weren’t overly concerned about thebruises. The fever didn’t go away, however, sothey took Jonah to the pediatrician where he wastested for the flu and strep, which were bothnegative. It occurred to Liza that Jonah’s ironlevels might be low, causing the bruising, so sherequested a CBC, which turned out to be thekey to learning what was causing Jonah’s fever.The blood test revealed that Jonah’s plateletswere extremely low, and the family was referredto Batson cancer clinic. “During that 15 minuteride to the hospital, I was on my phone googlingabout low platelets, and ‘leukemia’ just kept comingup,” Liza says. Within one hour of arriving atBatson, Jonah was diagnosed with leukemia,specifically acute lymphoblastic B cell leukemia.He was admitted that day and had surgery thefollowing day to put in his chemo port.“The first month was awful,” Liza shares.“He couldn’t walk, and he was on steroids so hewas always hungry but would get sick from eating.”Fast forward two years, and although they havebeen through some very rough times, Jonah is inremission. He goes to the clinic once a month forcheck-ups, takes chemo at home every day, andalso gets a weekly and monthly dose of chemo.This year, Brandon High School held itsannual Make-A-Wish pep rally in Jonah’s honor,presenting the family with $2,000 for Jonah’swish. “Through the Make-A-Wish pep rally, weare able to give back to deserving children in ourcommunity who are going through unimaginablechallenges,” says BHS principal Bryan Marshall.Teacher Rebecca Russell, organizer of the peprally says, “Make-A-Wish Mississippi is anamazing organization that helps sick childrenright in our own area. I love that our communityand all five Brandon schools work together tosupport our Wish child. There’s no better joythan seeing high school kids give their time andmoney to help others.”Participating in the Make-A-Wish pep rallyis very meaningful to the high school students aswell. “Make-A-Wish is a great opportunity for achild to experience something magical,” saysstudent Mackenzie Brown. “I am so glad thatJonah came to our pep rally to celebrateMake-A-Wish with Brandon High School.”Student Cadence Howell adds, “Make-A-Wishgives children an amazing experience they mightnot otherwise have.”When a child goes through a serious illness,every member of the family is affected. Parentsface worry and exhaustion, and siblings struggleto understand what is happening and why theymay not have as much time with mom and dad.It’s a difficult balancing act, and time spenttogether having fun as a family becomes aprecious commodity.Thanks to the outpouring of support fromthe community and help from Make-A-Wish,the Forbes family will soon enjoy a trip to DisneyWorld, where they will make memories to last alifetime, and their Rankin county “family”couldn’t be happier.39042 Our Town • 93