Healing Stem Cell Treatment
"I was shocked that cord blood could be used to treat so many diseases. One of the doctors even called it liquid gold."
- Kristi Williams
More than growing pains
Kristi and James Williams smile as they watch the boy in a blue t-shirt and jeans run across the school playground. Their now 12-year-old son, Christian, is finally able to do what other children his age take for granted. After a long battle with leukemia, Christian is strong and healthy, and a great older brother to the sibling that helped save his life.
"Christian's mother, Kristi, was five months pregnant with the couple's second child when he complained about soreness in his legs. Thinking it was growing pains, the couple was stunned when doctors diagnosed 4-year-old Christian with a rare form of leukemia. They advised Kristi to save the new baby's cord blood and told her that a stem cell transplant would give Christian his best chance beating this life-threatening disease.
A fighting chance
"I went to my Ob/Gyn and explained the situation," said Kristi. "I was shocked that cord blood could be used to treat so many diseases. One of the doctors even called it liquid gold."
Christian was at a high-risk state and immediately began an aggressive regimen of chemotherapy. His immune system was so suppressed that the family barely left the hospital. "It was really hard. Christian was sick and tired most of the time. I can't explain the pain of watching your child go through this experience," explained Kristi.
A family's prayers are answered
On the day baby Noah was born, the first phone call the family made was to Cord Blood Registry. A medical courier came to pick up the infant's umbilical cord blood, a sample of Noah's cord blood was tested, and the family soon learned that the boys were a perfect match. Kristi and James were overjoyed. "I jumped up and down and danced around my kitchen," said Kristi. "It was the scenario we had been praying for."
The transplant is next
Christian began radiation two weeks prior to the transplant. He underwent more high-dose chemotherapy at Cook's Children's Hospital in Ft. Worth, Texas. Then on March 29, 2004, his brother's newborn stem cells were infused through a syringe into Christian's central line. The procedure only took ten minutes.
The family waited. It was Easter when the good news arrived. Noah's newborn stem cells had engrafted, and Christian's new immune system was producing healthy blood cells. "About a week later, Christian was feeling good," said Kristi.
The road ahead
Today Christian is doing well and doctors are optimistic about his future. The entire family is thrilled to watch Christian live his life as a healthy, normal child. "If we ever have another baby, the first thing we'll do is arrange to save his or her stem cells," said Kristi. "I can't think of a better investment for your child or your family than banking cord blood."
