Kai's Story...

Last September Kai had his annual Well Visit and came away with a clean bill of health.  But suddenly in the beginning of October his parents Gus and Beth, found large very dark purple bruises on his backside. When Gus asked him what had happened Kai didn’t know how he’d gotten them. Two days later more bruises appeared.

On Oct. 11th Kai’s parents too him back to his pediatrician Dr. Lorna McFarland, and Gus only had to take one look at her face to know something was terribly wrong.

After drawing Kai’s blood they found his platelet levels were at 10,000 where normal levels are between 150,000 – 450,000. An appointment with a pediatric oncologist was set immediately.

Oct. 13th was their first appointment with Dr. Finklestein in Long Beach Pediatric Oncology/Hematology. At first it was thought that Kai had ITP (Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura). He was treated for ITP and they were hoping that would be the end of the problem since ITP usually resolves itself after 6 months.

When the ITP treatment unfortunately didn’t show results (on Gus’ birthday, on Oct. 22nd), they brought Kai in for a bone marrow aspiration.  It showed Kai’s bone marrow was working at 25% and they would now wait and see if he could recover on his own.  Kai, being very aware and inquisitive, asked the doctor which bone the he was going to take from his body and how he was going to put it back in :)

Because of the increased bruising and petechaie (small red dots on the body), Kai became blood transfusion and platelet transfusion dependent, with increasing frequency to a weekly basis. The doctors also sent his blood to the Mayo Clinic, and places all over the US to perform countless tests and rule out everything imaginable.
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Important Need:

Kai needs YOU to join the National Bone Marrow Registry. He will most likely need a bone marrow transplant and needs to find a match. Here's how to join:

Click here: Join.marrow.org/4Kai

It only takes 15 min. to fill out your consent form, then you will receive a kit in the mail. Time is of the essence and  note that your registration is INCOMPLETE until we receive your swab kit. Read the facts here.

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