Lost Jobs, Serious Illness Test Family

LAKE WALES | Jason Appleton had the right stuff to be a Marine, but now he's being tested in ways he never imagined.

He and his wife, Miranda, lost their jobs last year - he in February and she in December. Both were employed at Technology Research Consultants in Haines City, which builds aircraft equipment for military applications.

"It was a good company to work for, it's just that business got a little slow," said Appleton, 30, who still sports a military haircut despite having left the Marine Corps eight years ago.

His job at Technology Research was building and testing avionics equipment like gyroscopes, skills he acquired as an aircraft mechanic in the military working on Harrier jets. Miranda Appleton worked as the company's parts manager.

It was early December when Miranda Appleton was told she was no longer employed. And then, just before Christmas, the couple's 4-year-old son, Blake, became severely ill. His symptoms mimicked the flu, and he was extremely sensitive to light and had taken to wearing sunglasses indoors.

After a week of doctor visits and telephone consultations, the Appletons remained clueless as to what was wrong with little Blake. The child's pediatrician scheduled an appointment for after the holidays.

But on New Year's Day, the Appletons could wait no longer. They took their son to the emergency room at Lake Wales Medical Center, where doctors delivered devastating news.

Blake had a large tumor embedded in his brain, so large that it pressed on the brain stem. Additionally, a buildup of fluid had reached dangerous levels.

In a race against time, Blake was rushed by ambulance to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando, where surgeons drained the fluid with a device called a shunt. The next day, Jan. 2, Blake underwent brain surgery.

Physicians successfully removed the entire mass, which proved cancerous. Tests revealed that Blake had a particularly aggressive form of brain cancer that targets very young children.

Jason Appleton has held down the fort at home, caring for his daughter, Morgan, 6, while his wife has remained with Blake at Arnold Palmer Hospital. Blake was scheduled to be released to go home Saturday.

And while Jason has found another line of work, the loss of family income over the past year has just about wiped out the couple's savings. With their home in danger of foreclosure and myriad bills piling up, the Appletons reached out to The Ledger's Newspaper with a Heart program for monetary assistance.

The Heart program helps families in their time of need by paying any number of bills. The holiday appeal, which lasts well into the new year, depends on the generous donations of Ledger readers. Contributions are tax-deductible.

Since losing his job at the technology center, Appleton started his own handyman business, called JEMC, the middle initials of everyone in the family. It may be months, however, before Miranda Appleton can start looking for employment, as Blake has a long road to recovery.

Today, he and his parents head to Shands Hospital at the University of Florida, where physicians will extract stem cells from the child's bone marrow. The cells will be used later to help Blake recover from the damage of chemotherapy.

The Appletons hope their medical bills will be covered by Medicaid, and are awaiting word of final approval.

Blake does suffer some side effects from brain surgery. For instance, his hand-eye coordination is off, his dad said. "But I see half-smiles. He doesn't talk much, but he gives kisses and hugs; it lets you know he's in a good mood."

[ Eric Pera can be reached ateric.pera@theledger.com or 863-802-7528. ]