The Brown Family
Donation protected
On October 23, 2015 our 7 year old son James had a seizure at school. It was not something he ever had before and he was not sick in any way, so it was a complete shock to us.
In the emergency room they drew blood to investigate why he had the seizure. We were shocked even further when the doctor told me that his blood levels were way below what they should be. We were transferred by ambulance to Cohen’s Children’s Hospital that night. It was there we learned James had a form of bone marrow failure. That is when ones bone marrow is not producing enough white, red and platelet cells. We learned his diagnosis is called Aplastic Anemia. He will require a bone marrow transplant. Thank God our 8 year old daughter was found to be a match for him. Until his transplant he will have to go back to the hospital at least two times per week to check his blood levels. To date so far he has had 7 transfusions of either red blood cells or platelets. He does not have the ability to fight any infections so he cannot attend school and now has a teacher come to him 3 times a week.
Before the transplant happens he will have to be hospitalized for at least a week and will remain in the hospital for at least a month and a half. He will then have to be monitored for another month or two before he might be cleared to resume normal activities like going to school, being allowed in crowded places, etc..
I am on an unpaid Family Medical Leave and will remain on it until our son has the all clear to return to normal activities, whenever that is. My husband is in construction. Any time he takes off will be unpaid. He will continue to work whenever possible while caring for or arranging care for our daughter.
We are truly grateful our son’s prognosis in the long run is positive, especially with our daughter being the bone marrow donor. We are also truly grateful for the love and support of our family, friends and community, especially the community of St. Brigid/OLH school.
In the emergency room they drew blood to investigate why he had the seizure. We were shocked even further when the doctor told me that his blood levels were way below what they should be. We were transferred by ambulance to Cohen’s Children’s Hospital that night. It was there we learned James had a form of bone marrow failure. That is when ones bone marrow is not producing enough white, red and platelet cells. We learned his diagnosis is called Aplastic Anemia. He will require a bone marrow transplant. Thank God our 8 year old daughter was found to be a match for him. Until his transplant he will have to go back to the hospital at least two times per week to check his blood levels. To date so far he has had 7 transfusions of either red blood cells or platelets. He does not have the ability to fight any infections so he cannot attend school and now has a teacher come to him 3 times a week.
Before the transplant happens he will have to be hospitalized for at least a week and will remain in the hospital for at least a month and a half. He will then have to be monitored for another month or two before he might be cleared to resume normal activities like going to school, being allowed in crowded places, etc..
I am on an unpaid Family Medical Leave and will remain on it until our son has the all clear to return to normal activities, whenever that is. My husband is in construction. Any time he takes off will be unpaid. He will continue to work whenever possible while caring for or arranging care for our daughter.
We are truly grateful our son’s prognosis in the long run is positive, especially with our daughter being the bone marrow donor. We are also truly grateful for the love and support of our family, friends and community, especially the community of St. Brigid/OLH school.
Organizer and beneficiary
Tara Fitzgerald Fuentes
Organizer
Westbury, NY
Margaret Brown
Beneficiary
