is a 3 year old student
at our school who is living with ...
  

Click the picture to view a slideshow about Amelia and DBA:


DBA Fundraiser 

• Diamond Blackfan Anemia is a rare bone marrow disease in which the body produces little or no red blood cells

 

• In order to survive, patients must either undergo frequent blood transfusions OR take a daily dose of prednisone (which for some unknown reason helps the bone marrow produce red blood cells).
• Patients like Amelia need blood transfusions every 2 -3 weeks.

 

• The treatments for DBA both come with their share of side effects
• after time, too many blood transfusions begin to build up excess iron in the body 
  which causes damage to your heart and liver
• taking prednisone every day for a lifetime can cause diabetes, high blood pressure, glaucoma, a weakened immune system, stunts your growth, and a long list of other things..the drug is not meant to be taken long term

 

• The only cure at this time is a bone marrow transplant but it is usually only done if the patient has an exact sibling match; in our case Amelia's brother is not a match

                                                 

http://www.kmbc.com/newslinks/16344715/detail.html

http://www.kansascity.com/318/story/638239.html

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/amelialamb

There is a donation box in the HTEEC office for anyone that would like to
make a donation on Amelia's behalf.