Taylor Wilson, a woman from Buffalo, is raising money for hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) in honor of her late friend Paige Casillo. The two have known each other since they were five years old, and now Taylor will donate to HLH research so that nobody else loses a loved one to this rare disease.
About HLH
Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare condition in which the body produces an excess of lymphocytes and cytokines. This overactive immune system leads to the characteristic symptoms of the disorder, which include:
- Fever
- Skin rash
- Increased risk of cancer
- Difficulty breathing
- Abnormal kidney function
- Heart problems
- Abnormal bleeding
- Enlarged liver, spleen, or lymph nodes
- Easy bruising
These symptoms can be the result of primary HLH or secondary HLH, which occurs as the result of another cause like a vaccine, underlying condition, or infection. Primary HLH can be caused by an inherited genetic mutation, or it can be the result of medications that suppress the immune system, certain cancers, metabolic conditions, autoimmune diseases, or immunodeficiency. In terms of treatment, doctors will tailor a treatment plan based on the type of HLH one has, along with the present symptoms and their severity. If it is caused by an underlying, identified reason, treatment aims to address that. Otherwise, doctors may recommend a bone marrow transplant, antiviral drugs, or antibiotics.
Promises for Paige
In honor of Paige’s birthday, Taylor decided to hold a fundraiser. She labeled the event “Promises for Paige” in an effort to raise money and awareness. It’s her hope that research will lead to a cure for this rare disease. She doesn’t want anybody else to lose someone that they love so much.
If you would like to contribute to the cause, you can donate here. You can find the source article here.
