LEUKEMIA VICTIM TO BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

SIKESTON -- It looks like Jacob Boyd will be home for Christmas, after all.

Jacob's parents, Paul and Dee Dee Boyd, were worried their son might have to spend the holidays at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis.

"We were up in the air until he went pack to Memphis this past week," said Paul Boyd.

The 4-year-old was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia in September, and has been in and out of the hospital since his diagnosis.

"He's home, and hopefully will be through the holidays," Boyd said. In January, Jacob will return to the hospital for a few days, "and after that, Jacob's going to be back pretty much every month," he said.

Jacob's doctors said his is a low-risk case, and there is a 75 percent chance for complete recovery, Boyd said.

"(Jacob's) doing fine. He's feeling good. Of course, he's lost some weight and he's lost his hair and he takes chemotherapy every day in the home and at the doctor's office," Boyd said.

Paul Boyd works for the Federal Probation and Parole Service in Cape Girardeau. He formerly was an officer with the Sikeston Department of Public Safety for nearly 10 years. Dee Dee Boyd is a secretary in the administrative office of the Federal Land Bank and Production Credit Associations of Southeast Missouri in Sikeston.

Jacob is the grandson of Pat Leible of Sikeston and Howard "Butch" and Pat Boyd of Cape Girardeau.

To benefit the family, the Fraternal Order of Police and the nine branch offices of the Federal Land Bank and Production Credit Associations of Southeast Missouri are holding a benefit raffle for Jacob. The drawing will be held today at the Farm Credit administrative office, 240 N. Kingshighway, in Sikeston. Prize is an RCA 27-inch television with remote control.

Tickets are $1 each or six for $5 and may be purchased from Doug Friend at Sikeston City Hall, any Fraternal Order of Police member, Pat Leible at Missouri Delta Medical Center, Howard "Butch" Boyd Jr. at the Cape Girardeau Police Department, Lambert's Cafe, Moll Printing, Democrat Printing or any employee of the Federal Land Bank/Production Credit Associations.

When Jacob first got sick, his parents thought he might just have a cold or an ear infection, Boyd said. Then he passed out at the babysitter's house and was rushed to the hospital. The next day "we left for Memphis. It was kind of all of a sudden," Boyd said.

Dee Dee Boyd stayed with her son from the time of his diagnosis in mid-September, not returning until Thanksgiving Day. The family stays at the Ronald McDonald House in Memphis while Jacob undergoes treatment.

"We're fortunate that Memphis is so close," Boyd said. "There are people (at the hospital) from New Jersey and several people from the Middle East and Europe."

In addition to Jacob's good response to treatment, the Boyds have other good news: Dee Dee is expecting a baby, "so Jacob will have a little brother or little sister in July," Boyd said. "I keep telling people that when I say `guess what?' to a group of people, they really pay attention now."