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Community rallies behind Kingston boy who caught virus in Mexico

Donation jars were spread across Kingston and the Suquamish reservation to raise money and help pay medical bills.

SUQUAMISH, Wash. — Alisa Bird was in Mexico visiting family last week when her 9-year-old son, Julian, who already suffers from severe cerebral palsy, got a virus which turned to pneumonia.

Things went downhill from there.

"I'm really scared," said Shellene Kurtz, Bird's best friend. "We've put up a lot of prayers and I have a lot of people in my community trying to support any way we can and help this little guy fight for his life."

Julian's doctors at Seattle Children's wanted him admitted there immediately, but an emergency medical flight from Mazatlan costs tens of thousands of dollars.

"She is the strongest woman I've ever known. She is the best mother I've ever met, hands down. I've never seen anyone care for a child as good as she does."

Late last night, though, the money came through.

A family friend agreed to loan Alisa $32,000 so Julian could get to his doctors back home.

But the reality is Alisa, a single mom who stays home full-time to care for her son, doesn't have that kind of money.

Friends established a GoFundMe for the family. 

"It's going to be up to us, the community to help her out," said Kurtz.

Late Thursday, friends and family brought Alisa some essentials for what could be a long stay at the hospital.

"I'm sure she feels really alone," said her sister Andria. "I'm sure she's really scared. She's gonna be really thankful that we're here and she's here."

On Thursday, Julian remained on life support in the ICU -- in stable condition, but breathing with the assistance of a machine.

Andria said at least now Julian, described by everyone as a "fighter" will have a fighting chance to survive.

"We're just absolutely grateful for everybody's support to get us where we are right now."

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