Ryker’s Bone Marrow Transplant
For most of Ryker’s life, he’s been in and out ofthe Children’s Hospital due to various medical concerns. The doctors have struggled to find answers for Ryker but we finally received a diagnosis at the end of January of Shwachman Diamond Syndrome (SDS.) For those who don’t know what SDS is, it is a rare genetic disorder where multiple systems of the body are affected including the pancreas, skeleton and blood and bone marrow.
After two bone marrow biopsies and consultations with specialists across the nation, it has been determined that Ryker will need a bone marrow transplant. Ryker’s bone marrow biopsies have uncovered rapid changes / deterioration in his cells, typically found in Leukemia patients where Doctors are concerned he is on the verge of Leukemia. The bone marrow transplant will not cure SDS, as there is currently no cure, but Ryker’s risk for future bone marrow disorders will be reduced.
Ryker will be heading over to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital on the 16th of April to get the whole process started on the 19th. Evaluations will take a week or so, then chemotherapy will take place about the third week in, then the transplant will take place, and he will then be there for at least 100 days, depending on how things go. A bone marrow transplant is an intensive procedure and it can take a long time to recover, so we will be in Cincinnati for about 4-6 months.
Proceeding the transplant, Ryker’s immune system will be completely compromised. He will be under strict guidelines by doctors, and will be living in Cincinnati until the specialists determine him stable to be transported home. Once home, Ryker will continue to take daily medications to support his immune system.
Throughout this entire process, added financial pressure will be placed on our family as we will be living over 1000 miles from home for nearly half a year. We need to financially support living expenses, travel expenses, loss of income & food and necessity expenses. With knowing the financial situation will be tight, we decided opening a GoFundMe will greatly help relieve the financial burden. I appreciate all who have personally donated already, and we as a family continue to be grateful for any support.
Love, Ryker & Family ❤️
