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http://www.indianz.comNative bone marrow donors needed for Navajo child
WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2003
Native American bone marrow donors are being actively sought to help a
2-year-old mixed-race Navajo boy suffering from a rare blood disease.
Native donors and mixed-race Native donors are needed to help Dakota
Kwiecinski, doctors say. Without a donation, Kwiecinski, who has
hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, may die in six months.
The United Blood Services is holding bone marrow and blood drives on the
Navajo Reservation throughout the month.
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<A HREF="http://www.indianz.com/myredir.asp?url=http://www.daily-times.com/Stories/0,1413,129%257E6572%257E1374562,00.html">Native American bone marrow donors needed </A>(The Farmington Daily Times 5/7)
Native American bone marrow donors needed
By Valerie Gritton/The Daily Times
FARMINGTON Dakota Kwiecinski, 2, is in a life-threatening situation.Suffering
from hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, commonly called HLH, a rare blood
disease more severe than leukemia, doctors have told Dakota's family if a
bone marrow donor is not found soon, chances are he will not survive the next
six months.Because Dakota is of mixed race his father Navajo and his mother
Caucasian Navajo and mixed race bone marrow donors are needed."It's kind of a
desperate situation we're in to try and find somebody," said Dakota's
grandmother, Kathleen Holmes. "They (doctors) urged me to leave his bedside
and come back here to find a bone marrow (match)."Dakota is a patient of Mt.
Sinai Hospital in New York and even though his disease is in remission, he
can not be transported back to New Mexico."He can only be transported by a
taxi to the clinic," Holmes said. Dakota is from the Water Flows Together
Clan out of Newcomb, said his Navajo grandfather, Ken Lee. His father, Tino
Lee, is from Farmington and lives in Albuquerque. His mother, Tristan
Kwiecinski, is from Aztec. She was employed by Salmon Ruins, but in August
she moved to New York City to work for Pfizer Inc., a pharmaceutical company.
Shortly after the move, Dakota was diagnosed with HLH and Kwiecinski had to
quit her job.To help find a bone marrow match for her grandson, Holmes is
targeting the Navajo Nation for bone marrow donors.United Blood Services has
also stepped in and is hosting bone marrow and blood drives in Farmington and
throughout the Navajo Nation. Bone marrow testing is free for Navajo and
mixed-blood participants. United Blood Services, located at 1308 20th St., is
hosting a bone marrow and blood drive at the location May 12-14 from 8:30
a.m. to 6 p.m. An appointment is needed to donate.Also on May 15, United
Blood Services will host another bone marrow and blood donation drive at
Shiprock High School from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.Other bone marrow and blood
drives have been scheduled for May 21 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Kayenta
Health Center and on May 29 from 7 a.m. to noon at the Chinle Health Care
Facility.Information: Kathleen Holmes (505) 334-1004; United Blood Services
(505) 325-1505; Kayla at Shiprock High School (505) 368-5161; Myrna or Gwen
at Kayenta (928) 697-4139; Coleen at Chinle (928) 674-7104.Valerie Gritton: <A HREF="mailto:valerieg@...">
valerieg@...</A>
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