ANNUAL REUNION JOINS DONORS, RECIPIENTS.Byline: Kimm Groshong Staff Writer Hugs, tears and smiles abounded Friday at City of Hope as more than 5,000 bone-marrow recipients, donors and their loved ones loved ones npl → seres mpl queridos loved ones npl → proches mpl et amis chers loved ones love npl gathered for a celebration of life at the cancer center's 28th annual Bone Marrow Transplant bone marrow transplant: see bone marrow. Reunion. Among the recipients meeting their donors for the first time was Ashley Wilder, 12, of Lancaster, who was diagnosed at age 7 with acute lymphocystic leukemia, a commonly fatal disease. The leukemia went into remission after chemotherapy, but recurred last year. Doctors wanted to do a bone-marrow transplant to help Ashley withstand more-aggressive treatment methods for her disease. The bone-marrow registry matched her with Brenda Masuku, who traveled from her home in Johannesburg, South Africa South Africa, Afrikaans Suid-Afrika, officially Republic of South Africa, republic (2005 est. pop. 44,344,000), 471,442 sq mi (1,221,037 sq km), S Africa. , for the reunion. ``I believe it was meant to happen,'' said Masuku, 24, who registered as a donor in 1998 because her friends were doing it. ``If I had chosen not to go with my friends, this would have never happened.'' Ashley underwent her bone-marrow transplant in May. ``(Ashley is) one of the bravest people we have ever had the honor to treat,'' said Joseph Rosenthal, her doctor and director of the pediatric pediatric /pe·di·at·ric/ (pe?de-at´rik) pertaining to the health of children. pe·di·at·ric adj. Of or relating to pediatrics. bone marrow transplantation Bone Marrow Transplantation Definition The bone marrow—the sponge-like tissue found in the center of certain bones—contains stem cells that are the precursors of white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. unit at City of Hope. ``She is one heck of a hero - my hero.'' ``It's God-sent,'' said Andre Newsom, Ashley's stepfather. ``It's a blessing.'' Friday's event was the 10th reunion for Pasadena resident Richard Myers, who had a transplant in 1994 in his battle against acute myelogenous leukemia acute myelogenous leukemia n. Abbr. AML Myelogenous leukemia characterized by rapid abnormal increase in the number of myeloblasts and progression of symptoms. . ``I wouldn't miss it,'' Myers said. ``We're very fortunate to have a cancer treatment facility in our own back yard.'' Kimm Groshong, (626) 578-6300, Ext. 4451 kimm.groshong(at)sgvn.com CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1) During a reunion at the City of Hope on Friday, bone-marrow recipient Ashley Wilder, right, of Lancaster hugs Brenda Masuku of South Africa, who donated the marrow. (2) Richard Myers, 44, of Pasadena is a former patient of the City of Hope, having been treated in 1994 for AML AML - A Manufacturing Language , a form of leukemia. Keith Birmingham/Staff Photographer |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion