Dallas Mom’s Love for Daughter Shines Brightly on National Blood Donor Day

valentines day also National Donor Daywhich raises awareness of the act of love in organ, eye and tissue donation.

A Dallas mom scours the world to find the perfect bone marrow for her daughter.

Ten-year-old Sarah Efe-Martins is battling sickle cell anemia, a blood disorder in which red blood cells die quickly, resulting in blood loss. A bone marrow donor can help alleviate the serious complications that Sarah has from her illness.

But despite her condition, Isabella said her daughter was full of life and energy.

“She is funny. She is stupid. She is special. She’s hyper, especially for an age with that condition. She is a strong girl. She is hyperactive. I have to slow her down every minute,” said her mother, Isabella.

In recent years, her mom brought the family from their native Nigeria to Texas to find the best treatment after searching for a bone marrow donor in Africa and parts of Europe.

Before her illness progressed, Sarah loved to play basketball, play with her toys, and meet new friends.

But in June 2022, Sarah’s condition worsened. She began to experience pain and discomfort in her left hip and was diagnosed with avascular necrosis (AVN), a common and severe complication of her sickle cell anemia that causes bone death due to lack of blood supply. Isabella said Sarah’s pain was too much.

“I really need this girl to have a better life because I am tired. I am exhausted. I see my daughter crying and screaming. I can’t bear this pain from her. put pain on her,” she said.

Sarah began intensive physical therapy for three months to prevent further deterioration of her joints. A few days after she was released from therapy, Sarah had a stroke due to a lack of oxygen reaching her brain.

“I couldn’t wake my daughter. I just couldn’t wake up. I was so scared. I lost her,” Isabella said.

To reduce brain damage, Sarah received a blood transfusion for three months. Children’s health. She also began rehabilitation therapy at Scottish Rite for Childrenalso in Dallas to help her walk again.

Sarah’s doctors and parents have made the decision to put her on Be The Match’s transplant list because bone marrow transplantation is the only way to cure sickle cell anemia. Isabella said that a match was found, but for personal reasons, this person did not want to undergo the procedure.

There is currently no one on the roster who is a perfect fit for Sarah. At least not yet. Isabella is not going to give up.

“I’m talking to people everywhere. Please, this girl needs a match. I really need this girl. I need this girl home. I need this girl strong, the way she used to be, ”she said. “There is nothing wrong with trying. It’s not just about Sarah, there are other kids on this list waiting to be matched – 100% matched so that this child can have the perfect life. can beat this party, it’s just a dab. That’s all”.

BE A MATCH

Every three minutes, someone is diagnosed with a blood cancer such as leukemia or lymphoma. For many of these patients, finding a suitable bone marrow donor is a chance for a cure. But less than 3 percent of the Texas population is registered to donate. The same shortage of registered donors is observed at the national level.

There are also huge differences in communities of color: Black or African American patients are almost 50 percent less likely to find a match than white patients. These numbers actually an improvement from past years.

But there are chances. It’s all about finding that match.

“They trained me, it’s a long process. But I’m really ready to go with her, to go through this long process with her, because I don’t know if she will end up having a normal life, a normal life. To go back to play basketball. She can play snowballs, she can build a snowman,” Isabella said.

Anyone between the ages of 18 and 35 can register free of charge in the bone marrow registry and remain on the registry until they reach the age of 61.

You can register to become a bone marrow donor through Be The Match online or at a community event. You will need to take a small sample of cells from the inside of your cheek with a swab in order to enter it into the registry. Click here for details.

Only one in 220 people on the donor registry ever matches a patient. You may never make friends with someone who needs a bone marrow donation, or you may be the only guy a child needs for a healthy life.

Click here to learn more about becoming a full organ donor.