TRANSPLANT DEEMED SUCCESS BOY, 4, GIVES BONE MARROW TO AILING 22-MONTH-OLD SISTER.

Byline: Kathleen Sweeney Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Zachary Torp gave his baby sister a late Christmas present Tuesday morning, one their family hopes will last a lifetime.

Meghan Torp received a cup of 4-year-old Zachary's born marrow to help rebuild her blood cells that have been plagued with acute myelogenous leukemia, an extremely aggressive cancer.

The transplant was successful, but for the next 30 days Meghan will be kept in intensive care at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.

``If the bone marrow is anything like Zachary, that bone marrow is going to kick the cancer's butt,'' said Tim Torp, Meghan's uncle.

The 22-month-old has been in and out of the hospital since she was diagnosed with leukemia at 1 year of age.

She has undergone numerous chemotherapy sessions aimed at killing the diseased blood cells. Last week, she underwent a final massive combination of radiation and chemotherapy. She had a less than 20 percent chance of surviving.

Dr. Ami Shah, assistant professor of pediatrics and Meghan's physician, said the toddler underwent the treatments with little problem and had a day of rest before the transplant, which is a process much like a blood transfusion.

Zachary was given anesthesia, and a needle was inserted into various parts of his hips to remove the marrow, which is liquid between bones that serves as a factory for all the blood cells in the body, Shah said. The procedure took an hour.

The marrow was then filtered to remove bone particles, Shah said. About 10 a.m., the marrow was intravenously given to Meghan.

``She's doing very well,'' Shah said.

During the next months, doctors will watch Meghan to make sure she doesn't reject the marrow and to help fight any infection.

``She's in a critical state at this point. Her leukemia is a bad leukemia,'' Shah said. ``We'll fight with her.''

Her brother, on the other hand, suffered from a little pain and had puffy eyes after the transplant, but was quickly recovering within a few hours in his hospital room, playing Nintendo and eating candy. Zachary's body should replenish the bone marrow within two weeks.

Jim and Sylvia Torp, the children's parents, are taking each day as it comes. Sylvia took a break from the hospital Christmas Day to spend time with their other kids while Jim Torp spent the holiday bonding with his baby girl.

``It's tough on them,'' Tim Torp said, adding that Meghan is doing better than expected. ``That kid is tough. She's a little worn out considering everything she's been through.''

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Photo: (color -- ran in SAC edition only) Meghan Torp, 22 months, visit with Santa in this Dec. 9 photo.

David R. Crane/Staff Photographer