For little Jake Lannin, hope comes in the form of a clean, mold-free house.

The 4-year-old Peters boy has leukemia and had been in remission for three years until earlier this year, when a series of setbacks may have led to a relapse. Jake's family is sponsoring a fund-raiser Nov. 5, but it's not for the boy's medical bills. The Lannins need to raise at least $10,000 to remove toxic molds from their Railroad Street home so they can sell it.

Two weeks after flooding from Hurricane Ivan last fall, the Lannins purchased, for about $75,000, a two-story vinyl siding farmhouse near Finleyville. Neighboring homes had been flooded, but Kristi Lannin, Jake's mom, said her family was assured that the home it was buying had not been flooded. No damage was apparent, but still the 100-year-old house needed months of renovation before the Lannins could move in.

But, as appliances began to fail, it became obvious the home had sustained serious flood damage. Mrs. Lannin said servicemen discovered the furnace and hot water heater had been completely submerged and the warranty company refused to pay for damage.

The family moved into the house in February, and soon afterward, doctors at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh found a mold called Aspergillus growing on Jake's arm and in his lungs. The basement of the home was tested and was found to contain Aspergillus and another toxic mold, Cladosporium.

At the same time, Jake relapsed into leukemia. "Whether one thing had anything to do with the other no one will ever know," Mrs. Lannin said.

Because of Jake's sensitive immune system, the mold was life-threatening, Mrs. Lannin said. The mold had to be treated and his cancer had to be in remission before Jake could be a candidate for a bone-marrow transplant.

Jake's infections are gone now, thanks to intravenous antifungals and 18 hours a day of intravenous hydration. Chemotherapy is being used to treat the leukemia.

In the meantime, the Lannins received an estimate of more than $10,000 for mold remediation in their home.

The family said doctors recommend that Jake never return to the home, so they are hoping to sell. Mrs. Lannin, along with husband Chuck Lannin and their daughter, 2-year-old Olivia, who is to be Jake's marrow donor, also have been ill with cold and flu-like symptoms.

Mrs. Lannin said after his transplant, Jake will need a sterile environment. For now, the Lannins are staying with a family in the area.

The Lannins -- Mr. Lannin works for Pepsi Cola Bottling Co., Greensburg -- are struggling with medical bills and a mortgage on a house they can no longer live in.

So friends have scheduled a benefit dance at 6 p.m. Nov. 5 at the Peters Township Fire Hall to help raise money. For tickets, call 724-941-3000.