NFL Legend Fights for Cord Blood Cause
Hunter's Hope is a charity established by Hall of Fame Quarterback Jim Kelly, aimed at providing children with Krabbe Disease with a chance of surviving the life-threatening disease. Recently, the charity has been working hard to help Zoey Moore secure a cord blood transplant that could help to cure her of the disease.
Six-year-old Zoey was born with Krabbe's, the same disease that took the life of Kelly's son, Hunter. Zoey's older sister Raegan was also diagnosed with the disease, but did not survive. She was 19-months-old when doctors discovered that she had Krabbe's, and it was too late for her to receive the cord blood transplant that could have saved her life.
Had Raegan not been diagnosed with the disease, the Moore family would not have known to test their youngest daughter for Krabbe's, as well. As such, they are lobbying for the universal screening for such diseases among newborns and young infants - in order to catch them while they are still treatable. Hunter's Hope has joined them in this cause.
Zoey received a cord blood transplant before she began showing symptoms of the disease. The stem cells derived from the cord blood samples she received have helped to replace the enzyme galactocerebrosidase, of which Krabbe's causes a deficiency. This September, Zoey will start first grade, and her parents anticipate a happy and healthy future for their daughter.
Together, the Moores and Hunter's Hope will lobby to make the same thing possible for other children across America. By ensuring that children are screened early for Krabbe's and similar diseases, they can receive cord blood and stem cell transplants that could help to save their lives.