Amanda G. - Quilt Finished in 2004

Born: December 29, 1994

Illness: Severe Aplastic Anemia

A Thank You From Amanda's Family!

It is so beautiful !!!

Thank you, Rich and Amanda

Amanda's Story

Amanda was a normal healthy child when on March 22 of 2004 she got sick at school and needed to be picked up after being very tired falling asleep in class and feeling sick to her stomach. After missing three days of school she was taken to the doctors where they noticed Amanda was very pale and lips looked blueish to them. A

blood test was done and we were to get the results the next day or so.

Amanda woke up the morning of March 26th with a bloody nose and after around a half hour of not stopping a call was placed to the doctors for help. The doctor returned the call and said to take Amanda to the hospital and admit her right away because her blood counts were so low she needed immediate medical attention.

Amanda's red blood, white blood and platelets were so low she needed immediate red blood and platelet transfusions. The original thought was that Amanda had leukemia but after a bone marrow asperation and more blood tests she was diagnosed with a rare blood and bone marrow disease called Severe Aplastic Anemia. Amanda also had Mono and a bacterial staff infection and her immune system was unable to fight off the infection so she was given IV antibiotics and other medicines for the next 10 days and remained hospitalized and closely monitored.

Amanda was refered to NIH (National Institutes Of Health) in Bethesda Md. for a second opinion and possible treatments. After confirming the diagnoses of Severe Aplastic Anemia and because she had no birth related sibling a course of treatment with ATG, Cyclosporine and other antibiotics and steroids was decided upon. Treatments were started immediatly because the severity of her illness. After a two week stay and ATG treatments Amanda was discharged. Penn State Children's Hospital,Hershey Pa Dr Andrew Freiberg is assisting and working with the doctors

from NIH with her treatments.

Amanda needs weekly blood transfusions to sustain her life. Aplastic Anemia is a blood disorder of the bone marrow were it does not make enough blood to sustain life. The immunosuppresive treatments sometimes take 4 to 6 months to work so clinic biweekly visits to check blood counts and transfusions are needed. She has been hospitalized 4 times with fevers or infections because when she gets a fever or infection her immune system is unable to fight off the infection and it could be devistating and fatal to her body.

The treatment of Aplastic Anemia depends upon response of her immune system to Atg treatments. A possible 2nd treatment or unrelated bone marrow transplation are still options.