TURLOCK -- A family here has been dealt about all the bad cards they can take.

In March, 10-year-old Dylan Givargiznia had to resume treatments for leukemia that was diagnosed when he was 6 years old.

Chemotherapy and an experimental treatment performed at University of California at San Francisco Medical Center failed to beat back the disease to make Dylan eligible for a bone marrow transplant.

Friday afternoon, his father returned home from San Francisco to find their home had been burglarized, the family said. Taken were Dylan's favorite computer games, two plasma television sets, jewelry and a 150-pound safe containing videos of Dylan's birth, a lock of his hair and other family treasurers.

"We missed them by 15 minutes," said Arnet Givargiznia, the boy's father. The home entertainment items can be replaced in time but he has only a few remaining pictures of Dylan.

The father said the burglars got into the back yard through a side gate and gained entry to the house through a sliding glass door. He lives in the home with his wife, Leandra, Dylan and another son, Austynn.

A neighbor told the family she saw a white cargo van, or perhaps a pickup with a camper shell, in front of the home shortly before 4 p.m. Friday but assumed someone was doing repairs at the home.

Besides the plasma TVs, the stolen items included an Xbox 360 game console and Nintendo Wii, the father said.

Because of his illness, Dylan spends a lot of time indoors playing video games. He has been unable to ride his bicycle or a skateboard because of the dangers of cutting or bruising himself.

"I was kind of upset," Dylan said of the break-in. "I just hope we can get everything back."

Arnet Givargiznia hopes at least to regain possession of the baby videos and other family mementos stored in the safe. He is inviting anyone who has the safe to send him an e-mail and make arrangements to return the items with no questions asked.

Dylan is scheduled for more chemotherapy in a couple of weeks. If the disease goes into the remission, he will be eligible for a bone marrow transplant.

Turlock Police Sgt. Nino Amirfar said a family member reported the burglary at about 6 p.m. Friday.

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of the safe can send an e-mail to Dylanarnet32699@aol.com. Those with information about the burglary can call Crimestoppers at 521-4636.

BloodSource, the Givarginzia family and Crowell Elementary School, where Dylan is a student, are working on a bone marrow registration and blood drive from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Assyrian Civic Club, 2618 N. Golden State Blvd., Turlock. Donors will be registered with the "Be the Match" international marrow registry free of charge. Participants fill out a three-page questionnaire and provide cotton swab samples from the inside of their cheeks.

To help with medical expenses and other needs, friends have established a trust fund in the name of Dylan Givargiznia at Farmers & Merchants Bank; contributions are accepted at any branch.

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