Cancer is devastating to everyone. Our grandparents have had a few bouts with it. Friends and aquaintances have lost the battle with breast cancer recently in the very month that recognizes awareness of it.
Cancer takes on a new meaning for parents of children with Down syndrome. Amongst the heart anomalies, hearing loss and intestinal issues, leukemia also looms in the wings, waiting for our kiddos. Statistically, children with DS are at a greater risk for developing leukemia than the rest of the population. The good news is that kids with DS have been found to respond better to treatment - woo hoo! And they are less likely than the general population to have solid organ tumors later in life - bonus!
As a transplant professional and now a mom of a higher risk babe, I have to say - do your part. Sign up on the National Bone Marrow Donor Registry. You can check out the website for FAQ's etc. Signing up is easy. Donating isn't that bad - certainly easier than giving a kidney!
All About Annabelle
7 years ago
1 comment:
I signed up in college! And just got a happy birthday email from the National Donor Center. I had no idea that DS babes were more at risk for leukemia. Very interesting.
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