Many of you might know Jennifer and Blaine House from Auburn. They are our across the street neighbors and dear friends. Their daughter, Maisie (age 4) has just been diagnosed with severe aplastic anemia. Below is an email from Jennifer. Please pray for this wonderful family during this very scary time. Thanks so much.
Katherine Turnage
Friends,
Some of you already know what we've been going through over the past several days. To those of you who are getting this information for the first time, I apologize. We just haven't been able to call everyone.
Maisie Anne has been diagnosed with severe aplastic anemia and will be undergoing a full bone marrow transplant in about a month at Children's Hospital here in Birmingham. The transplant will be a month long procedure for Maisie in the Transplant Unit. Blaine or I will live with her through this process and see her through to a full and healthy recovery. The doctors consider this a very treatable disorder, its just tough to get through.
Today and for next 30 days or so, we've got both Maisie and Nora under house arrest, with only the grandparents visiting. Maisie is very immuno suppressed right now so her risk of serious infection is very high. Because her platelets are so low, she is also at a very high risk for bleeding.
We are currently awaiting test results that will steer us in the direction we head for transplant. We banked Maisie's cord blood at birth and are waiting to find out if we can use her stem cells for the transplant. Nora's blood was typed on Tuesday to see if she is a sibling match and we are waiting for those results. We will also bank the new baby's cord blood upon delivery in the next 3-4 weeks.
We all have a very rough road ahead of us and are asking our friends and family for the following:
Specific Prayer requests - please share with your churches, small groups, etc.
1. That Maisie stays as healthy as possible until the transplant, free from infection, needing as few platelet and blood transfusions as possible
2. Maisie's courage. That she remains a true testament to strength and happiness. She has shown love to everyone she has met along this journey.
2. That Maisie's cord blood is healthy and we can use it for the transplant (option 1)
3. That Nora is a sibling match to be a donor if we cannot use Maisie's cord blood (option 2)
4. That the new baby comes before Maisie needs to enter the hospital for the transplant so Jennifer will have a chance to be with Maisie during the initial phases of the transplant.
5. For strength for Blaine and me emotionally, spiritually, and physically - we are crushed and are so scared for Maisie
6. That the transplant will be 100% successful and this time next year Maisie will be 100% healthy
Donation Needs:
If you are O+ or O- please consider being a dedicated donor for Maisie.
1. Call 1-888-905-3344 to set up your appointment
2. Ask them about the list of donors. We want to stagger them because the blood is only good for 28 days
3. Tell them you want to be a dedicated donor for Maisie House
4. Donation site is at 1130 22nd St. South, Birmingham
If you donate platelets (pheresis) Maisie will need these on a weekly basis. We would like to use as few donors as possible for this. Ideally we should stick to 1 donor.
1. This is a 2 hour process
2. You need to be CMV negative - they test for this if you don't know
3. Because the platelets are only good for 5 days, this donation needs to be done weekly.
4. If you are willing to donate platelets, call 1-888-905-3344 to set up your appointment
5. Tell them you want to be a dedicated donor for Maisie House for platelets
6. Donation site: 1130 22nd St. South, Birmingham
Thank you to everyone for your prayers, support and possible blood donation. We will need your continued support throughout this journey.
Love,
Blaine and Jennifer
