STORIES OF HOPE
It's believed that between 500 and 1000 Americans are suffering from FA today. Many FA patients are 8 or 10 years old, close to the point where their bodies stop producing blood cells, before the disaster is recognized. The Currys had begun genetic consulting immediately when Natalie was 13 months old, when she was diagnosed. Devastating as it was, the only hope
for Natalie at the time was a bone marrow transplant from a compatible donor.
There is a one-in-four chance of a sibling being a compatible donor. The Currys fought to save Natalie at all costs. A miracle occurred when sister Emily was born, and identified as a match. Lea Ann says, "Emily gave us two lives." Lea Ann became involved in a study at Indiana University in Indianapolis to use the stem blood cells of the umbilical cord which is normally discarded at birth--and which can be saved and used for a transplant. The doctors harvested the placenta and the core blood cells from the umbilical cord, and froze it to be used at a later date for the transplant. Lea Ann and Brad flew to Paris with Natalie and Emily to arrange a transplant there. The transplant was performed during Natalie's stay in a sterilized environment. On the 9th day after the transplant the good news came. The white blood count was up. "We were very excited," says Lea Ann. Over the next few days the count kept rising and the Currys started to believe there was a light at the end of the tunnel. Sixty-four days after the transplant, just before Thanksgiving, Natalie was allowed to go home. "I'm just so glad it worked the way it did. As for Natalie, she's happy to be with her family, to go to school, and to begin a normal life. She has no desire to go back to Paris."
Seven year old Marleni cradled her newborn brother in her arms, thinking of the new hope he gave her to beat leukemia. When she had been diagnosed with leukemia, her family was expecting a baby. Although no bone marrow donor was ever found, the fetus would be the potential donor.
Doctors of Long Island Jewish Medical Center gave Marleni an excellent prognosis after transplanting stem cells from her brother's umbilical cord into Marleni. Today she is feeling fine, thanks to this miraculous procedure.
When 8 month old Nicholas was diagnosed with Wiskott Aldrich Syndrome, his mother knew he would not be able to ward off infections, and could not survive. Miraculously, Mrs. Galozzi discovered she was pregnant.
When Danielle was born, she turned out to be a perfect match for Nicholas. After transplantation, Nicholas' symptoms were gone. It brought tears to Mrs. Galozzi's eyes to see her son completely healthy!
