 |
|
Elliott
Elliott Lee
Aldrich started life with the odds against him. Born on
December 3, 1990, he was six weeks premature and had pneumonia.
Immediately, he was placed in intensive care. Doctors prepared
his parents for an uncertain outcome. From the beginning of
his life, Elliott showed the world what a fighter he was.
After just two weeks in the hospital, he was released to go home.
As he grew, Elliott spent the next 12 years of his life with a
learning disability and severe speech problems, remaining in special
education classes throughout his school years. A month after
Elliott's twelfth birthday, in January of 2003, the family was
devastated when he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia,
or ALL leukemia. He spent the next several months in the
hospital under the care of amazing doctors, in an effort to cure
him. The doctors' expertise paid off and Elliott went into
remission. He remained in remission for four years, until
August of 2007 when his parents learned the devastating news that he
had relapsed with acute myeloid leukemia or AML leukemia. In
addition to the AML, Elliott also suffered from myelodysplastic
syndrome or MDS, a disease that affects the bone marrow and blood.
The only way to save Elliott's life was a bone marrow transplant.
There was hope for Elliott when a bone marrow donor was found who
was a perfect match. Elliott underwent the bone marrow
transplant the day before Thanksgiving in 2007. The next few
months were very difficult for Elliott, and also for parents, as
they watched Elliott fight for his life. Two months after the
transplant, Elliott came home; however, Elliott's physical condition
was up and down from week to week. His parents were
heartbroken and felt helpless caring for Elliott. Sadly,
Elliott's health continued to decline, and he passed away on April
10, 2010 from a fungal infection. Throughout the years of
fighting the leukemia, Elliott received countless blood transfusions
that allowed him more time with his family. Elliott's parents,
Cindy and Dan, lost track of the number of transfusions
Elliott received. Cindy Aldrich expresses her feelings
for Elliott, and the donors who gave so he could live by saying, "so
many lessons learned from one of the bravest, kindest souls to have
graced my life. I thank all the donors, and his bone marrow
donor, for giving us more time with our only child." |
|
Coleson
|
After a trip
to the Iowa State Fair, and a developing low grade fever,
Coleson’s parents, Chelle and Doug, noticed that he was not
acting himself and was alarmingly pale. Immediately, they took
him to his
pediatrician
to have him looked at. “We thought he either had mono
(infectious mononucleosis) or was anemic,” Chelle said. Upon an
initial exam, the doctor suggested that they go to Edward
Hospital in
Naperville
for tests. Within a couple of hours, and several blood draws,
the phone rang in the exam room. The doctor was calling
with the devastating news that their 3 ½ year old son had
leukemia. On August
18th, 2008,
Coleson was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or ALL,
a cancer of the blood. Within 30 minutes, the Arends were
whisked into a critical care ambulance and transferred to
another
hospital
where a team of oncology specialists awaited their arrival. Two
days later, intense chemotherapy began. This lasted eight
months. During this time, Coleson was placed in isolation
because he could not
be exposed to
others for fear of infection. Additionally, he was given a total
of 12 blood transfusions for low blood counts. Thankfully, after
eight long months, Coleson went into remission. However, two
years
after his
diagnosis, he is still in the maintenance phase of his treatment
protocol. Coleson has a chemo treatment monthly, a spinal tap
every three months, and a daily regimen of oral medications
including a chemo pill. After his monthly chemotherapy
treatments, he receives steroids that make him miserable for the
full week that follows. Coleson is responding well to treatment
but still has a long road ahead of him. He will complete
his treatment in December of 2011 and the Arends look forward to
that day of celebration! In September of this year, Coleson’s
white blood count became very low and he spiked a fever, needing
to be hospitalized for 3 days. He also developed 42 warts on his
feet requiring surgery to provide him with some relief. With
Coleson’s suppressed immune system it is difficult for him to
fight any virus. He will start receiving IVIG (intravenous
immune globulin) blood products monthly to boost his immune
system and give him more fighting power. Coleson started
kindergarten this year, and when he is able to go, loves his
teacher and friends and everything there is about school. He has
done his best to participate in T-ball over the summer and plays
soccer this fall when he is well enough to do so. “He is a happy
kid and the bravest person we know,” Chelle says. |
|
Matt
|
|
On January 21st, 2010, after months of caring for his wife who
suffered injuries from a head-on car collision, Matt’s life
again turned upside down. While at his welding job at a
fabrication shop, six tons of steel fell on Matt, nearly killing
him. The horrific accident crushed Matt’s first four vertebrae
in his lower back, broke his pelvis in four places, cracked
several ribs, lacerated his kidney, bruised his lungs, and broke
his ankle. Additionally, Matt had internal bleeding and bruises
everywhere. Due to the severe trauma and injury, Matt’s kidneys
failed twice, and he needed help breathing. To complicate
matters, Matt was a Type 1 diabetic, and stabilizing him for
surgery was no easy task. It was five days after the accident
before he could have his first surgery, which was to repair his
back. A few days later, Matt had a second surgery, this one was
for his ankle. During this time, Matt was put on dialysis four
different times to keep his kidneys functioning. Throughout his
stay, Matt needed about twelve blood transfusions before,
during, and after the surgeries he underwent for the injuries.
After twelve days in ICU, Matt spent another three days in
Critical Care, and then another four days in regular care before
being transferred to a rehab hospital for three weeks. After
Matt was released from the rehab hospital he went home to his 22
acre farm with his wife and continued to improve and get
stronger, while going to therapy three times a week. Matt is
hopeful he will be pain-free one day and get back to work.
Matt’s family understood the importance of being a blood donor
even before Matt’s accident. Matt’s dad, Arnie, has been
coordinating blood drives in Johnsburg, Illinois for many years.
Matt has twelve family members that donate blood regularly. His
family is forever grateful for all the blood donors that helped
him get back on the road to recovery. |
| |
|
Brandy
|
Brandy was 19 years old when her life dramatically changed. On
November 30th, 2000, while on her way to karate practice with a
friend, the car she was riding in lost control and smashed into
a utility pole. The impact of the accident cracked the pole, and
it came crashing down on the vehicle. The damage to the car was
extensive, and utilizing the jaws-of-life, it took emergency
workers more than 30 minutes to get Brandy out of the vehicle.
Once at the hospital, the doctors found that Brandy had suffered
severe injuries. She had two collapsed lungs, broken ribs, a
crushed skull, a shattered right wrist, her right leg broken in
three places, broken hips, a broken back at L5, her pelvic bone
split in half, a cracked collar bone, concussion, and her major
organs were bruised. Brandy had more than 22 broken bones, over
150 stitches, and titanium rods in her leg to save it from
nearly being amputated. In an effort to keep her alive from the
trauma of the accident, Brandy received over 25 units of blood.
The doctors told Brandy and her family there was a chance she
would never walk again. Brandy spent just over a month in ICU
and was allowed to go home just after Christmas. She spent 6
months on bed rest to let the bones heal, and then Brandy began
9 months of grueling physical therapy. It was through sheer
determination and hard work that Brandy amazingly surpassed the
doctor’s expectations and did walk again. A decade later, Brandy
continues to have lasting effects from the accident. She suffers
from chronic pain throughout her entire body, has just 45% use
of her right wrist, and walks with a limp from her hips not
healing correctly. The severe scarring on her lungs from being
on a ventilator brought back childhood asthma. Despite the pain,
nerve damage, scars, and limp, the injuries do not keep Brandy
down. Her positive attitude is evident when she said, “I am
thankful to be alive. I have 2 beautiful kids, a wonderful
husband who knows my limits and is very supportive, as well as a
loving family. I have a wonderful life.“ |
|
Jaime, Tanner and Trevor
| |
Jaime was pregnant with twins when she began having
complications with bleeding at just 17 weeks into the pregnancy.
Cautious and concerned, Jaime was taking care of a two year old,
and had just moved into a new home. At the 23rd week into her
pregnancy, Jaime was fixing dinner for Juan and several men who
were at the house helping with a basement project, when she
again experienced some light bleeding. A gut feeling told Jaime
to call the doctor immediately; she was told to go to the
emergency room. That gut feeling very well may have saved the
lives of her twins. Within minutes of arriving at the hospital,
Jaime was experiencing massive hemorrhage, with contractions
starting shortly afterwards. Due to the severity of the
situation, she was airlifted from her local hospital to another
that was better equipped to handle this type of emergency. Once
there, Jaime immediately received a blood transfusion due to
excessive blood loss. Jaime remained at the hospital on bed rest
until the bleeding subsided at the end of week 27. She was
discharged and sent home with orders for strict bed rest. Two
days later, while on bed rest at her mother’s house, the
bleeding started again. She was rushed to the hospital, and
again she was given a blood transfusion and medications to stop
the labor. Once stable, Jaime was airlifted to another hospital
where they worked to stop her labor and keep her blood counts
elevated. Continuous daily blood transfusions were given to
Jaime until she delivered her twins 5 days later, at 28 weeks,
on April 22, 2008. Trevor was born at 2lb 7oz and Tanner was 2lb
11oz. Trevor’s blood counts were low, and they gave him medicine
to improve his condition. Unfortunately, Tanner’s blood
counts were much lower, and he required a blood transfusion
within hours of entering the world. “Even after my twins were
born,” Jaime said, “I was still receiving blood transfusions to
get my blood count level back to normal. Receiving blood saved
my life and the life of one of my twins. We are eternally
grateful.” Because of their prematurity, Tanner and Trevor were
in physical therapy and speech therapy from 1 to 2 years of age.
Now 2 ½ years old, they are healthy, happy boys who enjoy
wrestling with each other, and playing with their favorite toys
- their matchbox cars.
|
Josiah
|
When Josie Jackson was 33 weeks pregnant with her son, Josiah,
she received disturbing news: a routine ultrasound indicated
that her baby had a problem with his aorta, that, if left
untreated, could damage his heart. After little Josiah was born,
further tests indicated Josiah had an even more serious heart
problem, a condition in which the mitral valve causes blood to
leak backward into the upper chamber of the heart. If left
untreated, the condition could lead to a number of
complications, including heart failure. Unfortunately, there are
no mechanical mitral valves small enough for newborns. Within a
week of being born, Josiah underwent an urgent surgery to
correct the aortic abnormality and to repair the mitral valve.
After surgery,
Josie was shocked seeing her tiny baby hooked up to all the
machines keeping him alive. “I went home and prayed, because I
knew my baby needed me to be strong for him,” Josie said. After
a second partial repair of the valve, Josie was told her baby’s
best long-term chance for survival was either a heart transplant
or to wait until he grew large enough for a mechanical valve.
Josiah was placed on the list for a donor heart. While still
waiting for a donor heart, at five months of age Josiah had
grown sufficiently for surgeons to replace his mitral valve with
a mechanical one. The procedure was very challenging, but was a
success, and Josiah was changed to inactive on the transplant
list. Josiah also had heart rhythm problems from birth and
needed to take multiple medications to maintain a normal rhythm.
Josiah’s time in the hospital was prolonged after the
medications stopped working. The condition was corrected with a
catheter ablation procedure in which direct radiofrequency
energy is directed to the source of the abnormal rhythm to treat
it. A few weeks later, little Josiah finally came home, after
spending the first 17 months of his life in the hospital. While
in the hospital, he received numerous life-saving blood
transfusions. Without these transfusions, Josiah would not have
survived. Once home, Josiah underwent occupational, physical and
speech therapy to help him catch up developmentally after being
hospitalized for so long. Josie knows that Josiah will need
additional mitral valve replacements as he grows, and a heart
transplant is still a possibility, but for now she is enjoying
watching him blossom day by day. “He is a very happy and busy
little boy,” she says. “He is truly a joy.”
|
|
Jeffrey
|
|
The Czerak’s were so excited in September 2002, when their 5th
boy joined their “team”. Their joy quickly turned to fear when
baby Jeffrey stopped breathing in his father’s arms, just 2
hours after being born. Without delay, the doctors and nurses
restored his breathing, and he was whisked away for further
testing. Realizing he needed additional care, Jeffrey was
transferred to another hospital, where he endured a cardiac
catheterization to balloon his tiny aortic valve. Soon after
this procedure, the Czerak’s learned Jeffrey’s heart was
extremely enlarged and frail due to a heart defect known as
Critical Aortic Stenosis. At just 3 months old, Jeffrey had to
have a second cardiac catheterization. In stable condition and 6
months old, Jeffrey had his first open heart surgery to repair
his abnormal aortic valve. Due to the impact of the surgery, the
doctors explained that Jeffrey would need blood transfusions for
the operation. The family was blessed to have so many family and
friends offer to be direct donors for him. He received blood
from his aunt, uncle, mom and a family friend. After this
surgery, Jeffrey did amazingly well. The cardiologist said it
was a miracle because his heart was so weak when he was first
born. Jeffrey’s mother, Mary, said after the surgery, “we gave
thanks each day while watching him grow and we cherished each
smile and contagious giggle.” In September 2008, just before
Jeffrey turned 6, the second open heart surgery was scheduled to
make another repair to his aortic valve. This time, Jeffrey’s
older cousins, an aunt, his dad and a family friend, donated
blood for him. Unfortunately, bad news came in March 2010. Due
to his abnormal aortic valve, the ventricle in Jeffrey’s heart
was working twice as hard as it should, and Jeffrey’s team of
doctors felt it was once again time for surgical intervention.
The family prepared for surgery and lined up direct blood
donors, and Jeffrey underwent his third open heart surgery. His
cardiologist said that it was time to do the “Ross Procedure” -
a more complicated surgery where they removed Jeffrey’s abnormal
aortic valve then transplanted his own pulmonary valve into the
aortic valve position. His pulmonary valve, separating the right
ventricle from the pulmonary artery, was replaced with a
homograft (human donor valve). Cardiologists will continue to
monitor Jeffrey as he grows. He will eventually outgrow the
donor valve and need to have it replaced. Jeffrey’s mother is
comforted by the fact that “we know that if we cannot round up
enough donors ourselves for his next surgery, there will be
plenty of blood products available for him as there are many
wonderful people who donate each day.”
|
Lauren
|
In the Fall of 2009, Lauren was an
active and smart first grader when she broke her arm while
hanging from a zipline at a park. During an
x-ray to confirm the injury, it was
discovered that Lauren had a bone cyst present in her upper
right arm near the growth plate. The bone cyst had weakened the
bone, causing it to break with such little force. At first,
doctors felt the cyst was a benign, fluid filled cyst. Using a
“wait and see approach”, doctors discovered the cyst was not
growing or changing. Just 10 weeks after the first break,
Lauren was on the playground at school and slipped on some ice.
Unfortunately, another x-ray showed she had broken the arm
again, and even worse, she actually crushed the bone. An
MRI was ordered, and much to everyone’s surprise, the cyst was
an aneurysmal bone tumor. Although still benign, the tumor
needed to be removed immediately. During the surgery, a biopsy
was performed to confirm the tumor was not malignant. As doctors
were removing the egg-size tumor, Lauren began to bleed heavily.
She was given a transfusion of two units of packed red blood
cells. The transfusion allowed the doctors to complete the
removal of the tumor and gave Lauren another chance of being an
active first grader. Lauren is monitored every three months with
an x-ray to make sure the tumor does not return. She is
also very proud of her surgery scar and loves to show people
“how awesome I heal”! |
|
Taylor
| |
In October 2007, when the Babec’s were getting ready to go on a
family vacation, Jennifer Babec noticed a large lump on the
crown of Taylor’s head. As Jennifer examined Taylor, she also
observed the lymph nodes in the back of her neck were swollen.
Taylor’s mother was shocked at how fast this lump appeared. She
had been doing Taylor’s hair every day for school, and the lump
seemed to have grown overnight. Immediately, Taylor was taken to
the doctor. Within just a few days of blood tests, a CT scan, a
spinal tap, and a biopsy, Taylor was diagnosed with lymphoma.
The Babec’s were devastated with the
news. Quickly, the doctors met to determine the best course of
treatment. The decision was made to insert a catheter under
Taylor’s skin so they could administer chemotherapy. Because
chemotherapy treatments destroy malignant cells as well as
healthy normal cells, Taylor needed multiple blood transfusions.
Over the course of her treatment, Taylor was given a total of 22
units of red blood cells and platelets. Taylor’s mother,
Jennifer, said “the blood transfusions made Taylor bloom like a
flower. She would come into the hospital lethargic and leave
full of energy after a transfusion. It gave her life, literally,
and
she felt her best after a transfusion.” Taylor’s little body
also responded very well to the chemotherapy treatment. In June
of 2008, after 7 long months, she finished her most intensive
part of the chemotherapy treatments and started maintenance of
monthly chemo for 2 1/2 years. This July, Taylor had one last
surgery to remove the port that had administered all of the
chemo to her little body. Because of Taylor’s cancer diagnosis,
Jennifer Babec felt called to begin running blood drives with
Heartland. Since July of 2008, Jennifer’s blood drives have
resulted in 344 people donating blood to help save the lives of
children like Taylor. The reason she does this, she explains,
“it’s an easy way to give back to the community because they
were there for my daughter. I have family, friends, and people I
do not even know come to every blood drive.” Taylor is now in
remission. Although there is a 50% chance the lymphoma could
come back within the first year, the Babec’s have faith that it
is behind them. Her mom describes Taylor as being “very active,
making up for lost time with Brownies, gymnastics and
cheerleading. She is the center of all the kids laughing and
having fun.”
|
Andy
|
Andy,
the first of 3 children, was born on February 1, 1993. His mom
remembers him as “the perfect baby boy”. However, at three
years old, his mother began noticing changes in Andy. “He became
crabby, slept more, ran fevers, and I started noticing bruises
on his body. Andy was not the active little boy we used to
have”, his mother said. After undergoing numerous blood tests,
Andy’s family received the devastating news that Andy had Acute
Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), a cancer of the white blood cells.
In April of 1996, Andy began treatment for his cancer, which
included chemotherapy and blood transfusions. Two months into
his treatment, Andy had a reaction from the chemo, which left
him paralyzed. Sadly, in 1999, Andy relapsed, and was diagnosed
with testicular cancer. Andy received radiation and more
chemotherapy, but through it all, Andy continued to go to
school. In April 2000, Andy had yet another set back. He was
diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome, a rare disorder which
causes the immune system to attack the peripheral nervous
system. Andy was hospitalized for a month, and was transferred
to a rehab hospital for two more months to regain his strength.
Barely recovered, at nine years old, in October 2001, Andy
relapsed and the leukemia came back. To keep the white blood
cells in his body, Andy was given one and sometimes two blood
transfusions every day from anonymous blood donors. The doctors
said he would need a bone marrow transplant to save his life. It
was truly a miracle that Andy’s sister, Alexis, had her cord
blood saved, and it was a perfect match. On February 14, 2002,
two days after Andy received Alexis’ cord blood, he underwent
surgery to receive her bone marrow. Life was good until
Andy’s cancer returned for a fourth time, in January 2010. This
time it was thyroid cancer, caused by the full body radiation he
received during the marrow transplant. Andy had surgery to
remove the thyroid, followed by radioactive treatment. In the
fall of 2010, Andy will be a senior at Crown Point High School,
and will graduate with honors. Andy has played wheelchair
basketball since the age of 10, and now plays for the Rollin’
Hoosiers. Andy is also very active with the youth group at his
church and other community activities. Andy’s mother expressed
her thanks to blood donors by saying, “we are so thankful for
all the generous blood donations from people. It saved Andy’s
life”.
|
|
Nina
|
|
When
Nina was 20 years old, she was at a friend’s house, unaware that
in a matter of seconds her life would change. Suddenly, there
was an explosion in the basement, causing a fire, and Nina was
unable to escape the flames. On fire, Nina somehow managed
to make it up the stairs and into the yard. Remarkably,
she was able to make a call from her cell phone to her sister
Natalie and spoke these chilling words her sister will never
forget, “Natalie, tell momma I’m on fire, please help me”. Nina
then ran to a pool in the yard and jumped in to put out the
fire. The fire had covered 47% of her body, including her hands
and face. She was rushed to the emergency room, and was
immediately given a blood transfusion to save her life.
Concerned about infection, doctors ordered that Nina’s entire
body be wrapped in bandages
from
head to toe. Knowing the pain would be unbearable, the doctors
put Nina in a chemical coma for 6 long months with hopes that
she would recover. Being one of seven siblings, Nina had a lot
of family by her bedside while she was in the coma; talking,
reading and playing music. The day Nina woke up from her coma
was an emotional and joyous day for her family. The oldest
sibling, Linda, describes Nina as “quiet, sweet, and
kind-hearted.” Linda also said “I know that without that
blood being available, or the wonderful blood donors who gave
their time and blood, my sister may not have had a chance. Nina
is 24 years old now and we all continue enjoying life with her.
For the past 3 years, I do my best to take the time and donate.
I do this because someone in the world did the same and it
resulted in saving
a life…
my sister’s.”
|
Ashley
|
Ashley
was a normal 15 year old when she began suffering from severe
back pain. When the back pain did not subside after a few
months, she decided to go to a chiropractor. Thankfully, the
visits to the chiropractor did give Ashley relief from the pain.
After about a year, the pain came back, but this time it was
even worse than before. It was painful for Ashley to walk, she
couldn’t run, or do many other normal daily activities. After
months of enduring more pain, Ashley’s chiropractor did a side
x-ray, looking for some type of clue. The results of the x-ray
showed her tailbone was disconnected from the last bone in her
spine. The chiropractor immediately referred Ashley to see her
primary doctor. Ashley’s primary doctor had never seen anything
like it before; and referred her to an orthopedic surgeon. The
orthopedic surgeon had never seen an actual case such as this,
only in textbooks. The surgeon ordered a CT scan as well as an
M.R.I., and referred Ashley to a pediatric spinal specialist who
recommended her to have a lower spinal fusion surgery as soon as
possible. He also told Ashley that, because her tailbone was
severely displaced, without surgery she could become paralyzed
from the knees down. Ashley and her family wasted no time
scheduling the surgery for August 19th of 2009. Ashley was
told that she should donate her own blood in case it was needed
during surgery. That was when Ashley first learned of Heartland
Blood Centers. By the time Ashley went for pre-surgery tests,
she was in such agony; she was unable to sit without throbbing
pain. It was then the doctor told her that if she did not have
the surgery soon, she would be paralyzed in less than a year and
lose all bladder and bowel control. Ashley had the surgery and
was in the hospital for a total of 6 days. In the days
preceding the surgery, she endured a lot of pain, despite the
pain medication. Once home, Ashley began the healing process,
and her back pain slowly subsided. In the fall of 2010, Ashley
was able to rejoin the marching band and join the culinary
program at her school. She can now walk without pain, and can
even run; two things most teenagers take for granted. Ashley
feels her biggest lesson learned through her ordeal is “I have
realized from all of this just how important it is to donate
blood. And that is why I am now a member of the Four Seasons
Club at Heartland Blood Centers.” |
|
Don
|
|
Don and
Patricia Marks were married for 51 years and were blessed with
two children and three grandchildren. Sadly, in August
2009, Patricia passed away. Five months later, Don was still
grieving from the passing of his wife when he suffered a heart
attack. After being hospitalized for the heart attack, doctors
realized Don was bleeding internally. For the next three months,
Don was in four different hospitals and spent most of his time
in intensive care units. The doctors could not identify the
source of the bleeding. During this time, Don was receiving
multiple blood transfusions, allowing doctors enough time to
perform numerous tests and finally determine the bleeding was
coming from his bowels. Don underwent robotic surgery to repair
the small intestine. Ironically, the surgery caused
additional bleeding due to the incisions and the fact that he
was on blood thinners. Again, Don needed blood
transfusions to keep him alive. It was about a month after the
surgery that the internal bleeding finally stopped. During his
hospital stay, Don needed over 50 units of blood, sometimes as
many as 4 units in a day. Because of the numerous transfusions,
Don developed antibodies that made it very difficult to match
his blood type. Thankfully, the doctors were always able to find
a donor match. It was a frightening time for Don’s family. They
feared he would bleed to death waiting for the next test or
finding the next blood donor match. Don expressed his gratitude
for all the anonymous blood donors by saying “because of
generous, caring people, I was never out of blood. I was able to
remain stable long enough that the doctors had time to find and
fix the source of the bleeding. My family and I are very
grateful to everyone who gave blood.”
|
|
|
|
