A FIGHTING CHANCE BLOOD SHORTAGE PUTS TODDLER'S LIFE AT RISK.Byline: Kathleen Sweeney Staff Writer SANTA CLARITA Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, - There is good news and bad news about the Santa Clarita toddler fighting for her life against an aggressive form of cancer. The good news: Meghan Torp hasn't rejected the bone marrow her 4-year- old brother donated last week, which doctors hope will kill any remaining cancerous blood cells blood cells, n.pl the formed elements of the blood, including red cells (erythrocytes), white cells (leukocytes), and platelets (thrombocytes). blood cells See erythrocyte and leukocyte. Platelets are classed separately. plaguing her body. So far, she remains in intensive care but is fighting. The bad news: Meghan, 23 months, isn't producing any blood or platelets, which help the blood clot blood clot n. A semisolid, gelatinous mass of coagulated blood that consists of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in a fibrin network. , and there is a shortage of both at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. ``They are in a critical situation,'' said Tim Torp, Meghan's uncle. During the New Year's Day New Year's Day, among ancient peoples the first day of the year frequently corresponded to the vernal or autumnal equinox, or to the summer or winter solstice. In the Middle Ages it was celebrated among Christians usually on Mar. 25. weekend, the hospital called other facilities for blood platelets, he said. There wasn't enough for every child in the intensive care unit. Dr. Ami Shah, Meghan's doctor, said the hospital can always use more blood and if there isn't enough there, Childrens Hospital can call the Red Cross for supplies. But that can take several days. There have been few problems with the bone marrow transfer, but until Meghan starts making blood again, she must receive blood platelets every few days and blood at least once a week, Shah said. Doctors hope the baby's body will respond to the bone marrow within the next few weeks. Until then, her immune system immune system Cells, cell products, organs, and structures of the body involved in the detection and destruction of foreign invaders, such as bacteria, viruses, and cancer cells. Immunity is based on the system's ability to launch a defense against such invaders. has depleted de·plete tr.v. de·plet·ed, de·plet·ing, de·pletes To decrease the fullness of; use up or empty out. [Latin d , making her susceptible to infection and disease, Tim Torp said. ``Where Meghan is right now is grim and critical,'' he said. ``If that bone marrow doesn't kick in, that baby is going to die.'' Meghan had been in and out of the hospital since she was diagnosed a year ago with myelogenous leukemia myelogenous leukemia or myelogenic leukemia n. Leukemia characterized by proliferation of myeloid tissue in areas such as bone marrow and the spleen and by the abnormal increase of granulocytes, myelocytes, and myeloblasts in tissues and in , an extremely aggressive cancer. She had undergone numerous chemotherapy sessions aimed at killing the diseased blood cells. Two weeks ago, she underwent a final massive combination of radiation and chemotherapy. Last week, she received the bone marrow. Anyone wishing to donate blood or platelets may call the Childrens Hospital Blood Donor Center at (323) 669-2441. |
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