Marrow drive planned for Miami County girl

	Tweet

When students at North Miami High School found out sophomore Amy Fields was in need of bone marrow, 64 students quickly stepped up to the plate, offering to have their blood tested as a potential match.

This was more than enough to get the American Red Cross to go to the school and do testing (they require a minimum of 20 before they’ll make the trip from Fort Wayne), but then it was discovered that donors must be between the ages of 18 and 60 to qualify. This cut the list down to 14.

Thus, the school is seeking people to sign up for testing, as well as individuals willing to donate money to help offset the $96 cost for each test.

Miss Fields, a rural Roann resident, is in need of marrow because she has aplastic anemia, which causes her blood count to be dangerously low. For the last several years, she’s been on medication to keep the count up, but the efficacy of the medication dwindles with time.

The only other option, according to school nurse Donna Hisey, is for Miss Fields to undergo a bone marrow transplant.

“She may soon be running out of options of drugs to help her,” Ms. Hisey said.

The drive at North Miami, however, could potentially benefit far more people than Miss Fields.

“She’s not trying just for herself,” Ms. Hisey said. “She wants the bank to be built up for others, too.”

Ms. Hisey did say that since finding out donors needed to be between the ages of 18 and 60, the list has built up to 23. But the more people who sign up for the

marrow drive, the greater the probability of Miss Fields finding a match.

“We do hope a donor will be found for her,” Ms. Hisey said.

Miss Fields will be a junior next fall, and is presently quite active at the school.

“She’s involved in sports and everything,” Ms. Hisey said. “She also has a voice that’s out of this world.”

Because it costs $96 for the drawn blood to be run through testing, North Miami is also hoping to find a means to offset this cost so individuals don’t have to carry the financial burden themselves.

The bone marrow drive is set for June 2 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the high school cafeteria. Anyone interested in being tested as a potential match should contact Ms. Hisey at the school, 765-985-2931.

Those willing to sponsor someone’s test should also call.

Born at Wabash County Hospital, Miss Fields lives on the Wabash/Miami County line near the Stockdale Mill. She attends both Grand Street Baptist Church and Christ United Methodist Church in Wabash.

RELATED STORIES:
Risk of certain diseases higher for blacks, health officials say   Low vitamin D in kids may play a role in anemia   Anemia linked with heart disease in women   Genes predict stroke risk with sickle cell anemia   Permanent hair dyes tied to adult leukemia risk   Study Points to Role of Nitric Oxide in New Treatments for Sickle Cell Anemia   New Gene therapy Approach Developed for Red Blood Cell Disorders   U.S. ‘bunker buster’ bomb production halted again   Early drug therapy may help sickle cell patients   Students walk the eight mile for sickle cell   Anemia linked to disability in elderly   Iron regulation and the immune system link

Comments

[ + Post Your Own ]

Now you're in the public comment zone. What follows is not Armenian Medical Network's stuff; it comes from other people and we don't vouch for it. A reminder: By using this Web site you agree to accept our Terms of Service. Click here to read the Rules of Engagement.

There are no comments for this entry yet. [ + Comment here + ]