264. Saint Anne Hosting Donor Drive for 6-Year-Old in Need of Bone Marrow Transplant

//////
1 min read
Sophia Trujillo

Saint Anne is hosting a bone marrow and blood drive Saturday on behalf of six-year-old Sophia Trujillo who desperately needs a bone marrow transplant to a fight a severe blood disorder.  Sophia was diagnosed with aplastic anemia after tests ordered during her pre-kindergarten physical.  Finding a match has been challenging due to her mixed Filipino, Spanish, Irish and Italian heritage.

Sophia’s hematologist/oncologist, Dr. William Goodell says that, for white patients of northern European ancestry, a perfect match is found about 75 percent of the time, and an acceptable match can be found for over 95 percent. For a patient with mixed heritage, Dr. Goodell says the odds of finding a match are much lower.

The BeTheMatch drive for Sophia will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, September 12th at the Saint Anne Catholic Community Parish Center Building (120 North Ela Street). Ellaine Sambo Reyther of BMO Harris Bank in Barrington is Sohpia’s aunt and says that every person who participates in Saturday’s drive increases her chances of finding a match.

“The further we reach, the more people we reach, the greater the opportunities and chances. While Sophia has spent countless hours with doctors and hospital visits, it takes only two seconds to share her story and potentially find her match. Together we will continue to accomplish great things. With the most heartfelt gratitude….”

CLICK HERE for a recent ABC7 news video report featuring Sophia’s story. 

If you are between the ages of 18 and 44 and in generally good health, Saint Anne requests that you please consider participating in Saturday’s bone marrow and blood drive. Participants will be asked to submit a swab of cheek cells, which will be used to determine a possible match.  They are especially in need of donors with diverse ancestry as these donors are more likely to be a match for Sophia.

If you can’t make the Saint Anne drive, there’s another one scheduled for Wednesday, November 4th, at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital (1775 Dempster Street) in Park Ridge – Top Deck Cafe, 10th floor, by the east elevator.

Contact Mary Jane Kuroski at 847-620-3071 for more information about the Saint Anne donor drive. If you are interested in learning more about becoming a donor, visit BeTheMatch.org. Join the social movement created on Sophia’s behalf and share this story with #Swab4SophiaAnd, please pass this message on to friends, neighbors, anyone you know who might be able to participate. Thank you!

To help the family, Sophia Trujillo’s GoFundMe page can be found at gofundme.com/cbya34. Donations are going toward her medical bills and other expenses.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Latest from Blog