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Sick man finds two brothers Leukemia patient successful in locating lost family members Annie Hundley A year after the onset of leukemia and 23 years after his adoption, Ron Hawley found a family and maybe even a cure this weekend. Hawley, 32, of Fort Lupton has aggressive leukemia. The best chance for a bone marrow match is a brother or sister. But Hawley’s mother gave him up for adoption at age 7 and he didn’t remember any siblings. Social services records that would lead him to family have been hard to obtain. After a Tribune story on Hawley’s struggle was published last Friday, the phone line at the Fort Lupton home of Ron’s parents, Richard and Judy Hawley, was jammed with calls that led Ron to two brothers at warp speed. Two organizations — Emergency Medical Locators and Emergency Medical Locators — first contacted the Hawleys. Then a Greeley resident called. The caller knows Ron’s birth mother, Edna Goddard. Goddard’s brother called from Utah and then Goddard herself called from Oklahoma, pointing Hawley to his two brothers, Tracy, 34, and John, 37, who live in Albany, Ore. The brothers called soon after that. “Tracy said he was with the other brother John and that they were both willing to be tested to see if their bone marrow matched Ron’s,” said Richard Hawley, Ron’s adoptive father. Richard described his conversation with Ron’s mom with the careful detail that revealed his 25 years with the Colorado State Patrol. “She was concerned and asked some personal questions about Ron,” he said. “She indicated she had tried to find the kids about a year ago. She was willing to get on a bus and come back immediately if that was needed.” Tracy, John and a half-brother Paul were given up for adoption together in Oregon. The three were raised by the same adopted parents. Ron, who was born later, was given up to Weld County Social Services. Over the years, Ron wondered about his family but never searched actively. Then, in one afternoon, they found him. “We got a lot of news this weekend,” Ron said Monday. “I’m excited, nervous, scared, all those things. It’s a lot to take in over 48 hours. “You know that little lump you get in your chest when you’re so excited and you’re like, is this real or is this not real? I want to talk to them, but I’m confused on what to say.” Doctors have told Ron that finding siblings would be a major hurdle and could be the key to survival. University Hospital in Denver will send Tracy and John bone marrow test kits and their blood will be tested in Oregon. If someone’s marrow matches, a transplant will be scheduled and Ron will fight for recovery. Ron said that while cancer spurred the search, now he’s not just looking for bone marrow. He wants brothers. Now that he knows they’re out there, he has one more reason to fight. “This is going to be life-changing right here,” Ron said. “I’m not looking for a new family because if they didn’t do what they did, I wouldn’t have the great family I have now. But I do want to know my brothers. I’m starting a new life and not starting a new life, all at the same time. They’re my brothers. I’ve always wanted brothers.” ©2001 EMLA™ Adoption-Free-Search.org™ All Rights Reserved. External Web Sites are not necessarily endorsed by Adoption-Free-Search.org™