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One of the most beautiful experiences in Milbel Andino's life was when her doctor said: "You are preganant." Stephanie Kamille Rodriquez Andino was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Milbel would never forget the morning of March 21, 1995. Three-year-old Stephanie was rushed to the hospital emergency room because of the strange red dots consuming her face. The ER doctors told Milbel they wanted to repeat the initial tests they ran on Stephanie because the results were abnormal.
"Something deep inside me knew something was wrong," remembers Milbel. A bone marrow biopsy showed evidence of Leukemia, a type of blood cancer.
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| Stephanie was diagnosed with Severe Aplastic Anemia, a condition where bone marrow stops producing blood components. In Stephanie's case, red blood cells and platelets. Symptoms include fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath with exertion, rapid heart rate, pale skin, frequent infections, unexplained an easy bruising, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, prolonged bleeding from cuts, skin rashes and fever. Although there is no real cure for this condition, a bone marrow transplant is the best treatment.
Stephanie was hospitalized every four to seven days for transfusions. Because platelets last a brief time in our bodies, she needed them constantly. "Every time my daughter was in desperate need of blood products, the American Red Cross would do everything tin their power to get them. When blood products were unavailable in Puerto Rico, the American Red Cross would import them from the United States," recalls Milbel.
Stephanie's life depended on blood and platelet transfusions. This meant relying on family and friends, as well as complete strangers, to donate blood.
Eventually, Stephanie's body would create antibodies preventing her from accepting future transfusions, which would be fatal. The absence of platelets would cause internal bleeding and hemorrhaging in the head. Those effects would be very painful. "I was told to go the United States for a crucial bone marrow transplant for my daughter," says Milbel. A Philadelphia hospital and the American red Cross made sure that blood products wre available for Stephanie upon arrival.
"The continuous dedication of the Red Cross helped us with this transition. This kept my daughter alive, it was what sustained us," adds Milbel.
Finally, April 5th, 1996 arrived and the bone marrow transplant was performed. It was a success! Stephanie is alive and well today. Stephanie works to set up blood drives at her school, church and other locations in the community. Milbel says, "Stephanie is a living example of a miracle."
It is important that people undertand the meaning in every blood donation. To the Andino family it meant life for their beloved Stephanie. For many months Stephanie depended on blood cells and platelet transfusions. Without these donations she had no chance of survival. "Thank you," from the Andino's.
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