Texas Teen Receives Life-Saving Bone Marrow Transplant From Complete Stranger Via Be The Match

“Thanks to the donor, he is bringing my son back to life,” Corrine Liang said with tears in her eyes.

PLANO, Texas. 16-year-old Chi Hyun Chan has spent years in and out of the hospital.

At the age of 13, he was diagnosed with leukemia AML.

Chemotherapy brought him into remission, but he relapsed and had to fight cancer again. The second time will require more than chemotherapy. Chan will need a bone marrow transplant.

Dr. Victor Aquino, a pediatric oncologist and professor at UT Southwestern Medical Center, was part of Chan’s care team.

“Unfortunately, when patients, children, relapse, there really is no other treatment than allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, so without the transplant, he would have died of leukemia,” Aquino told WFAA.

Dr. Aquino said that only 2% of people in the United States are donors, while 7,500 people are waiting for a match.

It would be harder for Chan to find a mate because he is of Asian descent.

“It’s harder to find a match for ethnic minorities like African Americans and Asians just because there are fewer people on the roster,” Aquino said.

Chan’s mother, Corrin Liang, was afraid for her son. Chan’s sister didn’t fit. And yes, the parents are unlikely to come along. Liang knew that her son’s health depended on the kindness of a stranger. He needed a bone marrow donor.

Chi Hyun Chan found a 100% match. He had a transplant in August 2020 and it saved his life.

“Thanks to the donor, he is bringing my son back to life,” Liang said with tears in his eyes.

Chan is grateful to his donor.

“I am so grateful that you donated to me,” Chi Hyun Chan said. “If you hadn’t, I don’t know where I would be. I hope I can pass on this generosity in return.”

Chan turns 17 this week and is still cancer-free.

Drive Be The Match will take place at UT-Arlington on Tuesday, February 21st and Wednesday, February 22nd from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. You can also register online and receive a swab kit by mail by texting WFAA to 61474.

Content Source

Dallas Press News – Latest News:
Dallas Local News || Fort Worth Local News | Texas State News || Crime and Safety News || National news || Business News || Health News

texasstandard.news contributed to this report.

Related Articles

Back to top button