Alexa Turner is nine years old and has sickle cell disease, a condition that turns blood cells irregular and brings severe pain, acute chest syndrome, and silent strokes. She receives blood transfusions every month just to keep her body functioning. But her 13-year-old brother, Amari Rose, may be the one who changes everything. He’s a bone marrow match, and his donation is scheduled for January.
The procedure isn’t simple. Alexa will undergo chemotherapy and radiation to prepare her body for the transplant, and afterward the family will quarantine for 9 to 12 months while her immune system rebuilds. That means no school, no visitors, and no normal routine for a long time. Because their mother can’t work during quarantine, the family set up a GoFundMe to help cover expenses.
Amari says you have to fight through your fear and go through it. He also says it’s been hard watching his sister suffer. For those of us here on the Suncoast, the story is a reminder that blood banks and bone marrow registries are always looking for donors, and that one person’s decision can save a life. Have you ever thought about joining a marrow registry or donating blood?
