Alissa, Skot, Jesse, Wilf and Mimi Pierson are just one family of the many thousands who are suffering this year.

Nine month old Mimi Pierson was diagnosed with liver cancer at three months old. Mimi received a liver transplant but now Scot and Alissa are burdened with all of the medical expenses and emotional toll that comes with Mimi's ongoing care as well as trying to give Jesse and Wilf the things many teens take for granted.

Alissa is a local girl who grew up in Kent and later resided in Burien. Alissa is also an artist. You may have seen her Native American wood carvings: wood panel carvings on the outside of Ivar's Salmon House located at Northlake; Ye Olde Curiosity Shop on the Seattle waterfront; a carving of salmon running at the Snoqualmie Falls Library dedicated to a Native American woman. She has displayed her carvings at the annual Seattle Gift Show. Her carvings are also displayed at the Chicago Aquarium, and the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C. She has also served as a board member on The Native American Chamber of Commerce.

"I love carving because it goes on and on and it is always new ... ."

Alissa, who is one quarter Cherokee, was interested in Native American Art, and became interested in the Coastal Native American art through artists she met in the Seattle area. She heard about a bachelor's program which combined art and business, offered at The University of Alaska. She moved to Alaska with her husband, enrolled in the program and continued learning her art. One of her instructors at the time was Steve Brown, then curator at the Burke Museum, who traveled back and forth to teach.

She also managed her husband's art shop and continued to carve and sell her own art work. Alissa was one year away from her degree when she found out she was pregnant. By this time she also realized that her husband's physical abuse threatened her children as well as herself.

She met Skot Pierson and because of her own illness and a job offer for Skot, moved with him and her boys to Juneau.

Three months after Mimi was born, she was diagnosed with liver cancer and it was recommended that the best care she could receive would be at Children's Hospital in Seattle.

Alissa talks about how hard life can be sometimes.

"While we were here, we lost our home, the belongings we had in storage were destroyed due to flooding, and because we are still Alaska residents, our Alaska food stamps were cancelled ... on top of everything else, I just spent the money I had saved for the boys Christmas presents on taxi vouchers because there was an error in paperwork at Children's Hospital ... but even with all the hardships that life has brought, I have the little girl I have always wanted."

Through Children's Hospital Social Service Department, Alissa met Shirley Enebrad, who, along with Mark and Carrie Hewitt, are people who are making a difference. Ebebrad began helping families like the Pierson's in 1985, after her own son, Cory, died from complications of leukemia. Cory was ill for five and a half years and Shirley soon learned there was little help for a single mom working two jobs.

As Cory was dying he told her, "One of your missions now is to help other moms whose children have been diagnosed with cancer ... you were chosen to help other people not be afraid of death."

She created a family support group called, The Children's Connection, then Club Goodtimes, at the request of the American Cancer Society, and now Shirley is president of The Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Western Washington who help families like the Piersons.

The Hewitt's learned about Alissa, Mimi and her family through Shirley.

Alissa wants the chance to continue to create and sell her art, to help support her family and to give Mimi the care she deserves.

"My art is like no one's else. Through the elements and animal figures that I carve, I tell a unique story ... I am also teaching my sons the art of carving so that they can carry on the tradition."

The Hewitt's new gallery at 2992 Avalon Way S.W. in West Seattle is easy to get to.

For children like Mimi, Jesse, Wilf and their parents, Alissa and Skot, your help is vital. Shirley Enebrad, Mark and Carrie Hewitt know that one person can make a difference.

Maureen Kearney may be reached via wseditor@robinsonnews.com