Cancer patient awaits transplant

Wednesday, February 10, 1999

Cancer patient awaits transplant

LEUKEMIA: Sick youth will need bone marrow from 6-month-old
sister

By Sarah Krupp

Daily Bruin Contributor

Sitting in front of a Nintendo Entertainment System, Brayden
Rydell could be any 8-year-old battling the evil forces in
Nintendo’s Zelda video games.

But, Brayden’s battle extends beyond a fictitious enemy in a
video game; he’s fighting the deadly disease leukemia.

Looking past his cheerful smile and animated talk, the signs of
his illness are apparent: the yellowish tint of his skin, the
scarce tufts of pale hair on his nearly smooth head and the
smallness of his diminished body – telltale signs of
chemotherapy.

"He is definitely a trooper. He’s stayed positive throughout
everything, even the rigorous chemotherapy treatments," said Dr.
Jackie Casillas, one of the pediatric oncologists who treats
Brayden.

Brayden was rushed to the UCLA hospital on New Year’s Day with a
fever and severe bleeding. Diagnosed with acute lymphocytic
leukemia, a cancer which rarely afflicts children, he has since
remained in the hospital awaiting a bone-marrow transplant which
doctors say should cure him.

After Bryden’s operation, scheduled to occur in mid-March,
doctors estimate that he has a 60-70 percent chance of complete
recovery.

In Bryden’s case, the cancer affects the bone marrow, which
disrupts the production of blood cells, depleting the supply of red
blood cells and platelets which cause the blood to clot. To
effectively purge the body of cancerous cells, the bone marrow must
be replaced, Casillas said.

For a successful transplant, the donor’s bone marrow should have
several characteristics in common with the patient, and finding a
match is often extremely difficult.

Among family members alone, there is a 25 percent chance of bone
marrow compatibility, while the likelihood of finding a match from
a random donor is slim.

After Bob and Brenda, Brayden’s parents, discovered their marrow
was not compatible, they feared they would never find a match.

But a match was found in the littlest and newest member of the
Rydell family, Brayden’s 4-month-old sister Blair.

Even before Brayden became ill, Blair was a "miracle." Her birth
defied medical logic, said Linda Goss, community liaison for the
UCLA Blood and Platelet Center.

Brayden’s parents spent seven years – during which they endured
four miscarriages, multiple surgeries, fertility drugs and
artificial insemination – before Brayden was finally born. Brynnan,
Brayden’s 3-year-old sister, was conceived after three years and 13
attempts at artificial insemination.

"After Brynnan’s birth, we thought we were done. The doctors
told us that (Brenda) had less than a 1 percent chance of becoming
pregnant," said the Rydells.

When Brayden’s parents told him that his sister would be the
bone marrow donor, Brayden had two concerns.

"First, he asked if it would hurt her. Then when we told him
that it wouldn’t he said, ‘Will it make me act like a girl?’ Of all
the things we anticipated he would worry about, we hadn’t thought
of that one," said Mrs. Rydell.

Currently, Brayden is completing his third course of
chemotherapy which should bring him into remission by March, at
which time he will undergo the bone marrow transplant. By then
Blair will be six months old, an age at which the operation may be
safely performed.

Blair’s own risk is infinitesimal, just equivalent to that of
any patient who experiences general anesthesia, according to Goss.
Blair’s bone marrow will regenerate quickly, replacing the amount
extracted.

"Of course, its very scary because she is so young. But, I think
any parent would make the same decision. Fortunately, she won’t
know what’s happening and will not have any memories of the
surgery," said Mrs. Rydell.

A few months after the surgery, Brayden should be fully
recovered and able to return home. However, his recovery time
depends on how quickly the new marrow can adapt to his body and
begin to produce new blood cells.

Until the new bone marrow starts working, Brayden will continue
to receive large quantities of red blood cells and platelets every
few days.

The Rydells said they are grateful for the blood donations at
the UCLA medical center and have begun organizing not only blood
drives but platelet donations for Brayden and others.

"Donating platelets takes a little extra time, but it’s really
important. I never did this before Brayden got sick," said the
boy’s father, while donating platelets.

"It makes a difference when there’s a face to a cause, when you
know someone who needs them. Now I am going to donate regularly,"
he added.

The two-hour process involves a centrifuge which separates the
platelet cells from red and white blood cells. After collecting
platelets, the remaining blood cells, which still contain a certain
number of platelet cells, are returned to the body.

Although Brayden is not looking forward to the surgery, he is
excited to go home so he can skateboard, ride his bike, eat all the
macaroni and cheese he wants, and play all day on his new Sony
PlayStation.

"The hospital’s not that bad, but they stick a needle in me
every day. I hate needles," he said.

To donate blood or platelets for Brayden and others like him,
please contact the UCLA Blood and Platelet Center at (310)
825-0888.MICHAEL ROSS WACHT/Daily Bruin Senior Staff

Brayden Rydell, 8, who suffers from leukemia, discusses cars
with Hilary Gan, a child life specialist.

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