7-year-old to donate life-saving bone marrow to little sister in Sheffield
SHEFFIELD, Ala. (WHNT) — A Threadgill Primary School second-grader will donate life-saving bone marrow to his little sister in September.
September is Sickle Cell Awareness Month.
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At the age of seven, Austen Dickerson will give his little sister a life-saving gift: his perfectly matched bone marrow.
Four-year-old Addisyn Dickerson is scheduled to go through a bone marrow transplant on September 11 at Children’s Hospital in Birmingham. This transplant will try to cure her of sickle cell anemia, a blood disorder affecting hemoglobin.
One in 13 African Americans carry the sickle cell trait.
Addisyn is in pre-kindergarten at Northwest-Shoals Community College. She has been on a maintenance drug regimen since she was nine months old.
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The kids’ mom, Autumn, said the two are part of an early prevention program for pre-puberty treatment. The program involves educating both children on the specifics of the disease and the role they play in Addisyn’s journey to a healthy life.
Austen is set to donate bone marrow from his lower back. Before Addisyn’s surgery, he will be isolated for two weeks.
Addisyn is set to begin a chemotherapy regimen in preparation for the surgery.
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Autumn said she is so proud of her kids for their bravery when going through this process.
“I’m just so proud of both of them for their bravery and determination to see that Addisyn is healthy. If Addisyn’s body accepts the marrow, she’ll be cured. Even if it doesn’t completely accept it, her prognosis is much better. We’re looking forward to her being well and able to do anything she wants to do, except play football. We’re very hopeful.”
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