Family Seeks Bone Marrow Donor to Save 1-Year-Old’s Life

self insemination kit

In a touching appeal, a family is urgently seeking a bone marrow donor to help save their one-year-old daughter, Ava. The desperation behind their search illustrates the lengths parents will go to for their children’s health and safety.

Ava’s mother, Sarah Johnson, recently celebrated her daughter’s first birthday at a local hospital, where Ava is receiving treatment for acute myeloid leukemia. Time is running out, as Ava needs a bone marrow transplant as soon as possible. Unfortunately, her parents are only partial matches. “People often wonder why they can’t just combine our cells to create a perfect match, but it’s far more complicated than that,” Sarah explains.

The family spends most of their days at the hospital, navigating the emotional highs and lows of Ava’s treatment. Diagnosed at just nine months old, Ava’s condition is heart-wrenching. “It’s incredibly tough. Sometimes there’s nothing we can do, and she’s so young that she can’t articulate her discomfort,” Sarah shares.

Fortunately, there is hope on the horizon. Community support has been overwhelming, with numerous bone marrow drives organized to help find a suitable match. Here are some upcoming events:

• Sunday, April 9:
  • Coquina Beach, 2650 Gulf Drive S, Bradenton Beach, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  • Walmart, 508 10th St E, Palmetto, from 9:00 a.m. until kits run out.
• Monday, April 10:
  • Dunkin’ Donuts, 600 Missouri Ave N, Largo, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
• Saturday, April 15:
  • Southern Technical College, 298 Havendale Blvd, Auburndale, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Sarah emphasizes the critical nature of participating in these drives or joining the registry online at join.bethematch.org/fl. She highlights that many children and families are in need of a bone marrow donor, and matching is not based on a waitlist but on genetic compatibility.

Ava’s medical team will review the registry by the end of April. If a match isn’t found, her parents will have to rely on her father, who is only a partial match. This scenario is not ideal, as Ava’s body could potentially reject the non-matching cells. A perfect match is crucial for her recovery and long-term health.

As Ava prepares for her third round of chemotherapy this Wednesday, which will require a lengthy hospital stay, her family remains hopeful. “We will keep updating everyone and praying that this motivates people to help save Ava or another child in need,” Sarah says. “As a mother, it’s hard to stay strong all the time. I just want to be at home with my baby in her crib, where she belongs.”

For more information on joining the registry and supporting families like Ava’s, check out this excellent resource on pregnancy and family building options.