BMT Spotlight
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My name is Aaron Washington. I HAD severe sickle cell disease. I suffered with sickle cell all my life. By 11yr of age, I endured Acute Chest Syndrome, 3 strokes with therapy for recovery, chronic blood transfusions every 3 to 4 weeks, treatment for iron overload, and meningitis, countless hospitalization and doctors and clinic visits.
After I experienced my 2nd stroke while on transfusions, which was needed to prevent me from having strokes, the doctors could not assure my mother and I that the transfusion therapy could prevent me from having another life threatening and debilitating strokes that may lead to my death.
My mother, I always worried about my quality of life, and how long could I live like suffering with sickle cell.
At that point the doctors told us about BMT for sickle cell. A perfect sibling match would be the protocol for consideration. My family was all tested for a perfect HLA, my 2 sisters Tayla and Maya, my brother, Jeremiah, and my father. The test came back, NO MATCH! I prayed that God would make a way.
Weeks later while I was at one of my routine blood transfusions, and check up, My doctors asked, my mother and I, if we would volunteer to consider participating in a research study for severe sickle cell. This study is to try a new treatment for sickle cell using bone morrow transplantation from a close non-matched sibling. We where told, in order for successful BMT treatment for Sickle cell the donor and host has to be 6 out of 6 perfect match. My oldest sister, Tayla wad a 5 out of 6 match, closes enough to be part of the study. Prays answered! Hope at last!
My mother and I were told about the risks and it would not be easy. They told us about the side effects from the chemo that will kill my bone marrow to replace it with my sisters. She was told how it will make me sick and not feels so good and how all my long beautiful hair will fall out, how I can develop GVHD and maybe rejection, worst case, I may die. I thought a lot about it, and said, "I have been in pain all my life, and lots of needles, going back and forth to the hospital, feeling sick all the time, and about my hair, it will grow back. I have no hope with sickle cell, but with God and this BMT I may have a chance". Then I turned to my mother and said "mommy I want to do it". She said, ok, and we never looked back.
So our journey begins and with any journey comes challenges and setbacks. Before the transplant could take place, I have another my 2nd stroke we had to wait a year from stroke before I can start the BMT process. We where getting close, 3 more months from January and I would have been one year passed stroke when I experienced a 3rd stroke. With this stroke I could not talk or move the right side of her body.
I regained most of what I lost, and we had to begin again.
With a year to prepare mentally and financially for the BMT we began to put a support team around us and save funds for when we had to go into the long hospital stay for transplant.
Sunday March 23rd 2007, check in day at Children's Hospital at Egleston.
Because of the high doses of chemo that I would be receiving, with the thought of my hair just falling out, I decided to take control and have my head saved by my father on the day she check in the Children's hospital at Egleston. My Dad with some of his co-workers and friends shaved their head to support me.
My mom said I had the most perfect head. She said was the must beautiful bald headed person see have ever seen.
We went in with hope, faith and trust in God! I just shined with hope in my heart. I went into surgery to have her central line put in and my own marrow harvested.
My big sister Tayla checked in on April 3rd for her marrow harvest to give to me. Tayla did not think twice about what she was giving up. She said she would do anything to make her baby sister well. Tayla dose not see her gift as a sacrifice. To her, it was something she had to do.
April 5th, we call it, My rebirth, the day I received My sister's marrow. I received My new life and new beginning without sickle cell disease.
I did everything the doctors and nurses asked of me with no complaints. I made friends with everyone, from My mom and I would get up early in the morning to do my laps around the nurses station even when I felt bad. I greeted every one who came in my room with a big smile and a hello.
Weeks pass as we receive the news that my sister's marrow is holding on and I am now 100% donor and sickle cell free. It has been 12 week before we began the journey of going home.
The recovery for me was very long and hard. Suffered through GVHD, had to take more pills everyday then I can count.
Today I am almost 16yrs old 3yrs out of transplant, and Sickle Cell Free!I give all my love and thanks to my Doctors Nurses caregivers at Eagleton Children's Hospital you are my angles. To my mom, you are my hero, and my family and friends for all of your love and support. All the Glory goes to God.
