ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, June 11, 1996 TAG: 9606110018
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: DRAPER
SOURCE: NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
A 10-year-old child who attends Northwood Elementary School in Pulaski has received a complete computer system from the Make-A-Wish Foundation after surviving a bone marrow transplant in her battle with cancer.
Summer Dunford watched with anticipation as foundation volunteers, led by Donna Harris of Roanoke, brought box after box into her home and began putting the keyboard, screen, printer and other units together.
Delivery of all the items had been planned for when Summer was in the hospital. "But I really didn't see how I was going to handle carrying all this home," said Penny Dunford, her mother.
Summer was diagnosed with cancer two years ago. She was treated at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital and had the transplant at a hospital in Richmond last March.
"She's come a long way. ... She's done real well with it," her mother said.
Penny Dunford has been impressed with the outpouring of gifts, cards and support from people in Pulaski and Wythe counties who heard of Summer's battle. She pointed out various toys and decorations in the home where she and her husband, Tim, live near the Pulaski-Wythe county line.
"All of them are gifts from people. Some of them, we don't even know," she said. Similar support came from people at Summer's school. "They wrote her letters, the teachers sent cards, the kids made cards."
Summer had been an active child, but has been told she must take it easy for some time after the transplant.
Now she can entertain herself on the computer, which she learned to use in school. In fact, the school lent her a computer for home use last year.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation has been granting the wishes of children up to age 18 with life-threatening diseases for 16 years.
LENGTH: Short : 43 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: PAUL DELLINGER/Staff. Summer Dunford has big plans forby CNBher new computer. color.