URGENT! Platelet donation - MARIANNE YEE SUET SHIN (3 yrs female)

[jericho]

2nd DECEMBER 2002 (Monday)

Hi Friends,

Marianne Yee Suet Shin, a three year-old girl who is suffering
from E-Beta Thalassemia. As a victim of this disease, she
requires blood transfusion once every 3 weeks.She is currently
being treated in SJMC.

She will finally undergo a bone marrow transplant after Hari
Raya to lead a normal life. What she needs now is some
healthy donors to donate platelet in case she is not able to
adapt to the changes with the new bone marrow which is
being donated by her 6 year old brother.

Our blood is consist of red blood cells, white blood cells,
plasma, & platelet .
This means when we donate platelet we are actually
donating a small portion of our blood.
The special machine will take our blood and then separate it.
It will only take the platelet and return the rest to our body.

The family of Marianne Yee Suet Shin therefore appeal for
platelet donors as soon as possible as SJMC need to screen
through all donors to see whether they are healthy and fit to
be one of the standby donor.

Oh yes, you are only on standby. Only if the doctors find that
Marianne is not able to adapt to the new bone marrow, you
will be called to come in and donate your platelet.

Her medical record no.(MRN) is 458226.

What You Can Do???
1. If You Wish To Donate...
Please call her Father, MAX YEE at 012-2272889
OR Her Mother, SOK KUEN 012-2694005 to get more info.

2. If You Think You Can't Donate But Wish To Help...
Please forward this to your friends as soon as possible and to
as many friends as you know.

The operation is very likely be next week. (After Hari Raya
Puasa) So they have ONLY about one week to look for these
donors. Therefore, They Need Your Help URGENTLY.

Message send by Max & Sok Kuen's friend,
Ronnie Leong
013-3362277
2nd December 2002

[joker2107]

i got this message in my email earlier and called mr yee who confirmed that this is a genuine case.

he did mention that there is a preference for B+ blood.

E-Beta Thalassemia is a genetic condition, i.e. people are born with it. there is a host of associated side-effects to the known treatments of the day. families or such patients would expectedly be traumatised. all support, even as little as donating a pint of blood would go a long way in relieving their stress.


What is Thalassemia
A Basic Description

Thalassemia is the name of a group of genetic blood disorders. To understand how thalassemia affects the human body, you must first understand a little about how blood is made.

Hemoglobin is the oxygen-carrying component of the red blood cells. It consists of two different proteins, an alpha and a beta. If the body doesn't produce enough of either of these two proteins, the red blood cells do not form properly and cannot carry sufficient oxygen. The result is anemia that begins in early childhood and lasts throughout life.

Since thalassemia is not a single disorder but a group of related disorders that affect the human body in similar ways, it is important to understand the differences between the various types of thalassemia.

Beta Thalassemia

People whose hemoglobin does not produce enough beta protein have beta thalassemia. It is found in people of Mediterranean descent, such as Italians and Greeks, and is also found in the Arabian Peninsula, Iran, Africa, Southeast Asia and southern China.

Thalassemia Intermedia. In this condition the lack of beta protein in the hemoglobin is great enough to cause a moderately severe anemia and significant health problems, including bone deformities and enlargement of the spleen. However, there is a wide range in the clinical severity of this condition, and the borderline between thalassemia intermedia and the most severe form, thalassemia major, can be confusing. The deciding factor seems to be the amount of blood transfusions required by the patient. The more dependent the patient is on blood transfusions, the more likely he or she is to be classified as thalassemia major. Generally speaking, patients with thalassemia intermedia need blood transfusions to improve their quality of life, but not in order to survive.

Thalassemia Major or Cooley's Anemia. This is the most severe form of beta thalassemia in which the complete lack of beta protein in the hemoglobin causes a life-threatening anemia that requires regular blood transfusions and extensive ongoing medical care. These extensive, lifelong blood transfusions lead to iron-overload which must be treated with chelation therapy to prevent early death from organ failure.


Source : http://www.thalassemia.org/sections.php


The only way you can get sickle cell disease is by genetic inheritance. You cannot get sickle cell disease by contact or by blood transfusions.

IS THERE A CURE?

Presently, there is no cure for sickle cell disease. However, there is treatment for the pain and other aspects of the disease. Pain medication, antibiotics, rest, good nutrition, supplementation with folic acid and high fluid intake are all helpful treatments for aspects of sickle cell disease. At times, invasive procedures such as blood transfusions and surgery may be needed. Recently, treatment with hydroxyurea has been shown to increase the production of fetal hemoglobin, which does not sickle like normal sickle cells. Other experimental drugs are currently being used in clinical trials with promising results. Bone marrow transplantation has proven to be a cure in a very limited number of cases, yet only a few people are eligible for this extremely risky procedure (which, if successful, requires a lifetime of post-surgical maintenance with anti-rejection drugs). Many people are also exploring alternative types of treatments such as bio-feedback, acupuncture, herbal medicine, and meditation.

Source: http://www.sicklecellny.org/scd.htm


other links :
http://www.thalassemia.com
www.defiers.com/scd.html

[chsum]

I have just called Max Yee today, he said that the operation will begin somewhere in late January, so he need ppl to standby between 15th to 25th January 2003

[ng]

I do not know whether there is enough donors yet. But I am B+ and I am a regular donor. So if they still need someone, please email vcng@pd.jaring.my