Mia's Getting Marrow
Hi, my name is Mia
...I have been trying to find a cure for Diamond Blackfan Anemia for a very long time. I don't produce any red blood cells at all. I have been living off of people generously donating their blood to me as a way of survival every 3 weeks. I go into the hospital to receive 2 units of (either A+ A- O+ O -) blood through an IV. It's been a long 20 years of doctor appointments, tests and transfusions. Well over 300 people have helped to save my life through blood donations.
Recently I've had some reactions to the blood I received. In April of 2022, I had a TRALI - Transfusion-related acute lung injury, my lungs were attacked by the presence of the blood donors leukocyte antibodies in the little bit of plasma found in the donation. It was pretty scary not being able to breathe.
I am so thankful to have a chance at life that blood donors have given me for the past 20 years. I have been a huge advocate for encouraging people to donate blood through VITALANT and signing up for Be The Match the world's largest bone marrow registry. There is still no 10/10 HLA match for me in an unrelated donor around the world. That's why I have decided to move forward with a Haploidentical Transplant using one of my siblings as a half-match. I would love the chance at being cured, so in God's perfect timing, I am stepping out in faith in hopes that HE will heal me through this transplant. If you are able too, please pray for me that I will be healed.
I have set up this account to help get my family through the transplant process until I can get back home and recover, and anything left over will be used to travel when I am healed. My dream has been to go on a long Europe trip, but having to get blood transfusions every 3 weeks has prevented me from traveling. I would love to see places with my own eyes and have an epic adventure. It is something for me to look forward too for sure. ( I also have an Amazon List if anyone would like to help out in that way. )
If you can donate blood to help people stay alive like me, that would be wonderful, I can never say thank you enough for getting me to where I am today. 20 years old and ready to be cured! THANK YOU! (Check out my Instagram :) Love, Mia
