Transfusions are vital medicine against childhood leukemia
Leukemia affects approximately 4,000 children in the United States each year.
Beyond the numbers, though, are real families who fight to overcome these intense health challenges.
One North Texas family shared their story of a life-changing diagnosis and the lifesaving support from local blood and platelet donors.
“My youngest daughter was diagnosed with leukemia shortly after her third birthday,” said Mandy Flaming, a Carter BloodCare donor in Fort Worth.
Leukemia is a cancer of the bone marrow, which produces the body’s red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Leukemia cells reproduce rapidly, filling the bone marrow and crowding out healthy blood cells.
This internal competition for space and nutrients reduces the number of white blood cells available to fight off infections, red blood cells to carry oxygen and platelets to stop bleeding.
Little is known about the cause of childhood leukemia, but successful treatment relies on several rounds of chemotherapy, radiation and transfusions.
“She endured two hard years of treatment with multiple blood and platelet transfusions,” said Mandy of her daughter, Tatum. “On her last spinal procedure, we learned that the leukemia had relapsed in her CSF (cerebrospinal fluid, which surrounds the brain and spinal cord).”
The family was devastated by the diagnosis, but determined to help Tatum conquer cancer, Mandy said.
“She bravely faced two more years of even harder treatment, including more chemo, radiation, and many, many more pints of blood and platelets to help her continue with each phase,” Mandy recalled.
Tatum has now been in remission for nearly 12 years.
Mandy shared her family’s gratitude for volunteers who gave of themselves to ensure Tatum’s story continues to be written.
“She absolutely would not be here, alive and well, without Carter BloodCare and its lifesaving work to provide blood products to so many children facing medical trauma.”
You can help local children by donating at your nearby Carter BloodCare donor center or mobile blood drive. You can also host a blood drive with Carter BloodCare.
And, if you have ever received blood or platelets, your transfusion experience can be the lifesaving spark that inspires others to donate. Please Tell Us Your Story.