Stem Cell Transplants Save Father and Daughter

In 1992, Ray began feeling ill. What started out as common flu symptoms turned into what seemed to be those resembling tuberculosis. His doctors were at a loss, as they attempted to diagnose his condition. It wasn’t until 1998 that they discovered Ray had myleodysplastic syndrome, a disease which causes unhealthy cells to overcrowd the blood stream. 

Two years later, Ray’s condition started to worsen. His doctors informed him that he would need a stem cell transplant for any hope of survival. His sister provided the stem cells with which he was infused, and the transplant helped to improve his condition. 

Years after Ray’s own transplant, his daughter, Michelle, also fell ill. In 2002, she contracted a string of viral infections. Similar to Ray’s case, Michelle’s doctors could not figure out the cause of her illness. Eight years later, she was diagnosed with a disease that prevented her body from creating white blood cells. 

She, too, would need a stem cell transplant to survive, but a bone marrow match could not be found. Instead, she underwent a cord blood transplant using a sample from an unknown donor. 

It is now one year after Michelle’s cord blood transplant and she is seeing improvement in her condition. The Reuter family is pleased with the results and is hopeful both father and daughter have healthy futures ahead of them.  

Source: http://www.cityofhope.org/about/publications/eHope/2011-vol-10-num-11-november-29/Pages/transplants-decades-apart-save-both-a-father-and-his-daughter.aspx