Three members of James family in Du Quoin battle same disease

Marshall Browning Hospital in Du Quoin, the American Red Cross and Be The Match National Marrow Donor Program are pleased to jointly sponsor a Blood Drive and Bone Marrow Registry Drive on Thursday, September 26 at Marshall Browning Hospital in Du Quoin.

Marshall Browning Hospital is asking the community to come together to donate blood in honor of the James Family in Du Quoin and to register as a bone marrow donor.

The James Family, Frankie, Gretchen and their children Dawson and Olivia are especially in need of increasing the bone marrow donor registry. In 2005, Dawson, their son, had a lot of bruising. His platelet count was 2,000, extremely low. He was treated at Cardinal Glennon where he was diagnosed with ITP (Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura). His other counts were low, but while on medication that could be justified. After about a year and a half of being off all meds and having low counts still, Dawson underwent another bone marrow biopsy. This time it came back positive for Dyskeratosis Congenita.

Since this disease is hereditary doctors suggested Gretchen and Olivia be tested too. The test came back positive and both also have the disease. In May 2012 they visited a Dyskeratosis specialist in Philadelphia who confirmed that all three family members have the disease and would eventually need to have a Bone Marrow Transplant.

There are 70 diseases that are treatable by Bone Marrow Transplant. Patients rely on the Be The Match Registry to connect them to donors who are committed to helping them and others in need. By joining the registry your support helps life-saving transplants become a reality for the James family and patients like them.

There is no cost to join the registry and it only requires completing a health history form and providing a cheek swab sample. The Marrow Donor Drive is seeking individuals ages 18 to 44. Most patients do not find a marrow match within their own family. Patients with leukemia, lymphoma, sickle cell anemia and other blood diseases search the registry every day for a marrow match. The more potential donors on the registry, the better each patient's chance of receiving a life-saving marrow transplant.

The Blood Drive will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and the Bone Marrow Registry Drive will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Both drives will be held on the second floor of the hospital. Every patient deserves a second chance at life. Please give blood for families like the James family and sign up to become a bone marrow donor. For more information, call Pam Logan at 618-542-1033.