Pediatric Stem Cell Transplant Patient Stories

Innovations in Stem Cell Transplant Allow Parent to Become Donor
Cameron Dykstra was born with severe combined immunodeficiency syndrome (SCID), a condition commonly known as "bubble boy disease." The stem cells in the infant’s bone marrow did not produce functioning lymphocytes -- cells that play a crucial role in fighting disease. But within a week of coming to the University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital, his father’s donated blood stem cells – purified using a novel technique -- were transplanted to Cameron where they took over the task of defending the infant’s body against harmful bacteria and viruses.

Stem Cell Transplant Gives Leukemia Patient a Second Chance at Life
Zayla Mitsdarffer’s mother refers to the day of her daughter’s blood stem cell transplant as her “re-birthday.” On July 20, 2007, following two years of intensive, but conventional treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, six-year-old Zayla underwent a transplant with donated stem cells from one of her sisters.