In Toledo, Ohio an 8-year-old child is one of 100,000 Americans who is affected by sickle cell anemia.
According to WNDU, Terrilonnae Chatman has sickle cell anemia, which can cause red blood cells to have an abnormal sickle cell. The sickle shape contributes to making blood clot effortlessly. This is what causes terrible pains and anemia.
There is one silver lining: Until recently, it was a life-shortening condition.
As of March of this year, Young Terrilonnae has been scheduled to endure a bone marrow transplant to help combat her sickle cell anemia.
She will be receiving it in Columbus at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital. The first step in the process requires her doctors to destroy the bone marrow. They will do this by using some intense chemotherapy. Then, they will substitute replace it with a healthy bone marrow from a donor.
This is no quick feat either. The whole process is expected to take about two months.
Some patients have been cured after receiving the transplant, but there are some risks. Those risks may include rejection or affliction. Currently, there is a 75% success rate.
Terrilonnae’s goal is to be cured of sickle cell anemia.
And let’s be honest, we all have that goal for her, too.
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