By DAVID STONE
The Belton Journal
A benefit fundraiser for the family of 4-year-old Remi Wissinger will be held at 11 a.m. Sunday, November 17, at KC Hall in West.
Remi, the daughter of Belton firefighter LJ Wissinger and his wife, Alyssa, has been battling leukemia for the past 10 months.
LJ, who has served Belton’s Fire Department for six years, said the fundraiser will help his family with medical expenses.
“My insurance is great, but it doesn’t cover all of Remi’s medical bills,” he said. “We’re hoping to have a big turnout for the fundraiser.”
The Wissinger’s live north of Waco in the Chalk Bluff community, and LJ commutes to Belton for work. Alyssa is a student and takes most of her classes online.
“We also have a 3-month-old daughter — Ember,” he said. “We found out last December that we were having a second child, then the next month Remi was diagnosed.”
Remi is undergoing chemotherapy treatments at McLane Children’s Medical Center in Temple under the care of Dr. Cristabel Torres-Colon.
“She gets really sick on chemo days, but treatments are working,” LJ said. “But life has really changed for our family.”
“Remi loves being outside, and we used to go to the zoo, playgrounds, movies and water parks,” he said. “We are really not able to do that now. We try to avoid public places because of germs — Remi’s immune system is depressed.”
“Life has become a daily battle,” LJ continued. “Initially we were shocked and torn with the diagnosis — we never thought this would happen to us. We didn’t have a clue what to expect, but now we just help Remi be comfortable. It’s been a hard transition.”
Dr. Torres-Colon, a pediatric oncologist at McLane Children’s for about a year, agreed that Remi is showing signs of improvement, but she said the battle is far from over.
“Remi had a great response to her first month of chemo, but it’s important that she completes all of her treatments,” the Temple doctor said.
“It varies depending on white blood-cell counts, but the typical treatment is two years to more than two-and-a-half years. It’s a long treatment and it’s hard on the family.”
According to Torres-Colon, leukemia reduces white blood-cell counts, and that weakens a patient’s immunity. If not treated, the disease can shut down a person’s organs.
The November 17 fundraiser will include a dine-in or to-go lunch of fried chicken, sausage, kraut and trimmings for $15 per plate. There will be live and silent auctions, a gun raffle, a hunting trip raffle, a gift-card tree and kid games. The auctions will begin at 12:30 p.m.
Monetary donations can be made by calling (254) 744-0770 or (254) 749-8605. Auction items can be donated by calling (321) 388-3332. Venmo donations can be made to @RemiWissingerBenefit.
