Bone Marrow Trans- Sickle Cell Cure
Donation protected
Her new life starts with Cells & Heart!
Christina is a 16 year old girl who suffers from Sickle Cell Disease. Currently the only possible cure is a Bone Marrow Transplant.
Here is her story.
Our family lived in rural PA and we were very busy raising a house full of boys. We were given an opportunity to share our life with a little girl who needed a home following the civil war in Liberia. We adopted Christina when she was just 28 months old. We did not know that Christina suffered from Sickle Cell Disease.
SICKLE CELL
Sickle cell is an inherited blood disorder. Red blood cells become malformed in a crescent shape like a sickle. Because of their shape cells are not flexible, so they stick to the walls of the blood vessels and cause blockages. This can cause severe pain and even permanent damage to the brain, eyes, heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, spleen, bones and joints. Treatment typically requires hospitalization for iv hydration and use of narcotics during a crisis.
CHRISTINA
Then there is Christina. This bubbly, happy 16 year old trying to do all that she can in life. She is in the 11th grade at our local high school. She has been an active member of our school dance team. She loves working with children. Her dream is to become a pediatric nurse.
This past year her pain has been so severe that it has greatly interfered with her ability to attend school regularly or to do the active social things she loves to do. In the past four months she has been hospitalized for 43 days, and at home on bed rest for many more.
HOPE
Recently doctors have begun to offer Bone Marrow Transplants as the only possible cure for sickle cell disease. It is a specialized type of transplant known as a Reduced Intensity Transplant. Initial testing was done, and even though she came from a far away country, we have a perfect donor match!
PROCEDURE
Shortly after the New Year we will start all of the dr.appts and testing necessary to undergo the procedure. Christina will be admitted to Children's Hospital in early March. She will spend anywhere from 8-12 weeks in-patient, and then for the next 6 months will need to travel back and forth to Philadelphia from home several times a week.
EXPENSES
Medical insurance will cover a large part of the costs. However, it will be necessary for her mother to be her constant caregiver, making it impossible to be employed. There will be trips back and forth to CHOP, medical supplies and copay costs. Any funds donated will be directly used for Christina's care. We are ready to start, we just need your help.
THANKFUL
Since Christina's arrival, she has known a life filled with doctors, hospitals, illness and pain. She has been hospitalized well over 100 times. We have worked to the total extreme of our ability to show her a life filled with opportunities and possibilities. She has a spirit and strength that are incredible, even in the worst of times.
We have believed since the day she came to us from an orphanage in a foreign land that there was a purpose to her being given to us. We now believe that the purpose was for us to help find a cure for her illness. Won't you please help us do this for her?
Christina is a 16 year old girl who suffers from Sickle Cell Disease. Currently the only possible cure is a Bone Marrow Transplant.
Here is her story.
Our family lived in rural PA and we were very busy raising a house full of boys. We were given an opportunity to share our life with a little girl who needed a home following the civil war in Liberia. We adopted Christina when she was just 28 months old. We did not know that Christina suffered from Sickle Cell Disease.
SICKLE CELL
Sickle cell is an inherited blood disorder. Red blood cells become malformed in a crescent shape like a sickle. Because of their shape cells are not flexible, so they stick to the walls of the blood vessels and cause blockages. This can cause severe pain and even permanent damage to the brain, eyes, heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, spleen, bones and joints. Treatment typically requires hospitalization for iv hydration and use of narcotics during a crisis.
CHRISTINA
Then there is Christina. This bubbly, happy 16 year old trying to do all that she can in life. She is in the 11th grade at our local high school. She has been an active member of our school dance team. She loves working with children. Her dream is to become a pediatric nurse.
This past year her pain has been so severe that it has greatly interfered with her ability to attend school regularly or to do the active social things she loves to do. In the past four months she has been hospitalized for 43 days, and at home on bed rest for many more.
HOPE
Recently doctors have begun to offer Bone Marrow Transplants as the only possible cure for sickle cell disease. It is a specialized type of transplant known as a Reduced Intensity Transplant. Initial testing was done, and even though she came from a far away country, we have a perfect donor match!
PROCEDURE
Shortly after the New Year we will start all of the dr.appts and testing necessary to undergo the procedure. Christina will be admitted to Children's Hospital in early March. She will spend anywhere from 8-12 weeks in-patient, and then for the next 6 months will need to travel back and forth to Philadelphia from home several times a week.
EXPENSES
Medical insurance will cover a large part of the costs. However, it will be necessary for her mother to be her constant caregiver, making it impossible to be employed. There will be trips back and forth to CHOP, medical supplies and copay costs. Any funds donated will be directly used for Christina's care. We are ready to start, we just need your help.
THANKFUL
Since Christina's arrival, she has known a life filled with doctors, hospitals, illness and pain. She has been hospitalized well over 100 times. We have worked to the total extreme of our ability to show her a life filled with opportunities and possibilities. She has a spirit and strength that are incredible, even in the worst of times.
We have believed since the day she came to us from an orphanage in a foreign land that there was a purpose to her being given to us. We now believe that the purpose was for us to help find a cure for her illness. Won't you please help us do this for her?
Organizer
Donna Whitehead
Organizer
Kutztown, PA
