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through which Robyn signed up
to be a bone marrow donor. She
was the 1%. Robyn was a match.
“I talked to DKMS on the phone,
and they told me there was
an 8-year-old girl with a blood
cancer who I was a possible
match with,” Robyn said.
Robyn was told the little girl had
Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)
that had progressed to Acute
Myeloid Leukemia (AML). Her bone
marrow wasn’t producing healthy
blood-forming cells. To stay alive,
she had to consistently receive
blood transfusions, but a patient
can only survive with that treatment
for so long. This little girl would
need a bone marrow transplant Robyn's nieces and nephews surprised her with special "Aunt Riya is
Bad to the Bone (marrow)" t-shirts the Thanksgiving before her surgery.
very soon to continue living.
Robyn hung up the phone and of cases, stem cells are collected The nurse told Robyn that as soon
DKMS got to work on the rest peripherally (apheresis). as she signed the paperwork, they
of the process. They set up an 2: Bone Marrow Donation would alert the patient’s medical
appointment at a nearby lab for involves undergoing surgery team to start preparing the 8-year-
Robyn to give blood for testing to collect stem cells from the old girl for the transplant. To do
purposes. Her blood was shipped back of the donor’s pelvic bone. this, they would give the patient
to DKMS’ headquarters in New York Clinicians only use this method very high doses of chemotherapy
City to test how good of a match in about 20% of cases. to take her cells down to almost
it was for the patient. Doctors The doctors wanted Robyn to nothing, preparing her to accept
generally look at 10 specific markers undergo method two – requiring the new cells from Robyn. Once
to determine a match. Most require anesthesia and surgery. her cells were broken down, she
at least a 9 out of 10 match, but a “Because the patient was would need the transplant as
10 out of 10 is best. The closer the so young, the doctors told soon as possible to survive.
match, the better the chances that me the surgery was necessary “It was a heavy moment,” Robyn
the patient’s immune system will to give her the best chances said. “They told me that I could sign
recognize the donated cells as its of survival,” Robyn said. the papers and still legally back
own and allow them to grow and Robyn agreed to move forward out later, but morally, I knew that
make new healthy blood cells. with the process. Though she was would never be an option for me.
Robyn’s bloodwork came living in Kansas City, she chose to So, I signed, and made the promise
back 10/10 – the perfect match. undergo the procedure at Houston to that little girl, her family and
The doctors officially confirmed Methodist Hospital, near her myself that I was going to do this.”
they wanted her to be the brother’s home, since there weren’t DKMS flew Robyn back home
patient’s donor and informed any Kansas City or St. Louis hospitals for another few weeks with diet
her of the two ways to give: that were part of the program. DKMS instructions that included a strict no
1: Peripheral Blood Stem first flew her to Houston for a full alcohol rule for the weeks leading
Cell Donation involves taking physical and additional bloodwork up to surgery. She was flown back to
stem cells directly from the to ensure she was healthy enough Houston, along with her mom, and
bloodstream (from the arm). It’s to donate. She found out the same underwent surgery on December 2,
an outpatient procedure and day that she passed the tests and it 2019, to collect the bone marrow
does not require surgery. In 80% was time to make her final decision. from the back of her pelvis.

22 Spirit Magazine SUMMER 2021