SINGLE-DAY BLOOD DRIVE RECEIVES HEALTHY RESPONSE.Byline: Heather MacDonald Staff Writer VALENCIA - Nearly 200 people gave up part of their Saturday afternoon to give blood and help 12-year-old Kendyl Biby battle a life-threatening disease. ``I can't think of a better way to spend my Saturday,'' said Valencia resident Jeff Hill, as he sipped orange juice from a paper cup after giving blood and registering as a potential bone marrow donor. ``I can think of things I'd rather be doing, but nothing better.'' Kendyl has aplastic anemia aplastic anemia or anemia of bone-marrow failure Inadequate blood-cell formation by bone marrow. Pancytopenia is the lack of all blood-cell types (erythrocytes, leukocytes, and platelets), but any combination may be missing. , a rare blood disease that results when the bone marrow, the spongy spongy /spon·gy/ (spun´je) of a spongelike appearance or texture. spong·y adj. Resembling a sponge in appearance, elasticity, or porosity. interior of the bones, fails to produce red and white blood cells White blood cells A group of several cell types that occur in the bloodstream and are essential for a properly functioning immune system. Mentioned in: Abscess Incision & Drainage, Bone Marrow Transplantation, Complement Deficiencies and platelets. Some experts believe it is an autoimmune disorder Autoimmune disorder A disorder caused by a reaction of an individual's immune system against the organs or tissues of the body. Autoimmune processes can have different results: slow destruction of a particular type of cell or tissue, stimulation of an organ into , a condition in which the body produces antibodies against its own 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. . ``Sometimes it's a drag,'' said Kendyl, who will start eighth grade at Placerita Canyon Junior High School this week. ``I can't always do what I want to with my friends or my brothers, or go to Disneyland.'' While experts believe some aplastic anemia cases are caused by toxins of some sort, including pesticides, other cases have no known origin. While the vivacious and bubbly Kendyl doesn't seem sick now, her mom knows that she may need a bone marrow transplant bone marrow transplant: see bone marrow. to beat the disease once and for all - and that it can take years to find a match in the national registry. Kendyl is among the 80 percent of those with aplastic anemia who respond well to immunosuppressive therapy, which uses drugs to kill off the white blood cells attacking the stem cells that produce red blood cells Red blood cells Cells that carry hemoglobin (the molecule that transports oxygen) and help remove wastes from tissues throughout the body. Mentioned in: Bone Marrow Transplantation red blood cells and platelets. ``She's doing well, but we're in a holding pattern where she's not really getting better either,'' said Tracy Biby, Kendyl's mother. ``It's frustrating. It would be really amazing if there was a match for Kendyl in the directory.'' Biby said she hopes the blood drive organized by family friend Norris Whitmore Jr. as part of his Eagle Scout project, along with the bone marrow registry, will raise public awareness about aplastic anemia and help others suffering from the disease. ``I'm just happy all these people came today,'' said Whitmore, a Scout in Troop 496. The drive Whitmore organized was extremely successful, said Patricia LeBlanc, donor resources developer for the Red Cross. ``Most drives of this type are much smaller,'' LeBlanc said. ``We're delighted.'' The blood drive will also help restock re·stock tr.v. re·stocked, re·stock·ing, re·stocks To furnish new stock for; stock again. Verb 1. restock - stock again; "He restocked his land with pheasants" local blood banks, whose reserves were drained by last week's massive blackout that left 50 million people from New York People from the state of New York who have achieved fame or note include: Public office
``That's exactly why we got involved with this,'' Biby said, ``to help other people.'' Heather MacDonald, (661) 257-5257 heather.macdonald(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: (color in SAC edition only) Blood donors came Saturday on behalf of a Santa Clarita 12-year-old, Kendyl Biby, who has aplastic anemia. The blood drive was a Scout project by Norris Whitmore Jr. David R. Crane/Associated Press |
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