CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Friends of a Lake County family whose son is beginning the bone marrow transplant process this week are finalizing preparations for a Saturday fundraiser on the child’s behalf.

The fundraiser and bone marrow donor drive in honor of 6-month-old Ryland Joseph will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 20, at Lake County Fire Protection District’s Station 70, 14815 Olympic Drive in Clearlake.

In February the baby boy’s parents, Rodd and Kellie Joseph, received the news that their son has  Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome, a rare disorder primarily affecting boys, as Lake County News has reported.

A bone marrow transplant is the only hope for a cure in severe Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome cases like Ryland’s. Without it, his parents said he is not expected to live beyond age 8, as the disease makes such children susceptible to autoimmune deficiencies, leukemia and lymphoma.

This week, Ryland was admitted to the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center – a leading center for pediatric bone marrow surgeries.

His father said the transplant is to take place on May 1, with Ryland likely will be in the hospital for as long as 12 weeks.

The Josephs said Ryland’s older sister will be his marrow donor. While it’s not common for siblings to be donors, in this case the two children were found to be matches.

Initial procedures are under way to prepare the little boy for the process ahead. His father said he has received a blood platelet transfusion, had a central venous catheter put in place in his chest on Thursday and he will begin chemotherapy on Friday to prepare him to accept his sister’s marrow.

He’s been in a lot of pain, but a picture his parents posted of him on Facebook Thursday night – which can be seen above – showed him looking more cheerful, with the posts reporting he was feeling better.

The Saturday fundraiser will include include a raffle and other activities to raise money to help defray costs of the expensive treatment.

Rodd Joseph said he will be in attendance to thank the community for its support. Wife Kellie will stay in San Francisco at Ryland’s side.

For those who can’t attend but would like to help the family, visit any Mendo Lake Credit Union branch and make a deposit to The Ryland Robert Joseph Be The Match Fund account, 7XXX2080.

While Ryland now has a match, his parents are advocating for more people to join Be the Match, the bone marrow registry, to help the thousands across the nation that need the lifesaving surgery.

At the Saturday event community members can be screened to join; they also can join online at www.bethematch.org .

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.