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| Maggie's Diagnosis
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Maggie's Diagnosis
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In early March 2005, Maggie was seeing her pediatrician
for an ear-infection when her mom asked about several
bruises on Maggie's legs. The doctor noted the bruises
were quite red and said she would keep her eye on them.
Ten days later, Maggie was back at the office for her
three-year well visit. By this time, the bruises on
Maggie's legs had tripled in number, and bruises were now
on her trunk and arms. The doctor called for an immediate
blood test. In the coming hours, Maggie's life would
forever change.
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Maggie's favorite treat is chocolate ice cream!
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Maggie was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia; what's
actually a mixed-lineage leukemia which is two types of
cancer (AML and ALL). On paper it is called MLL. Doctors
first targeted the more aggressive cancer, AML. Then later
in May they turned their efforts to the ALL. This form of
mixed-lineage is rare. It is believed that only a handful
of cases will be diagnosed in the United States each year.
Our family jokes that we knew Maggie was one in a million
- perhaps it's quite a bit more than that.
Her best hope for being cancer free was a bone-marrow
transplant. Maggie's immediate family members were not
matches, and Oregon Health Sciences University Hospital
began an unrelated search for a bone marrow or cord blood
donor in April. A bone marrow match who matches all 12
criteria was found, and Maggie had her transplant on July
5th, 2005 at Doerbecher Children's Hospital.
Please see her Journal History to learn more.
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