Kerie

I was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia in March, 1990 when I was 27 years old.

After being sick for several months, I awoke one day vomiting and too weak to rise from my bed. My husband rushed me to the hospital where blood tests revealed I had leukemia.

Without a family match for bone marrow transportation, my only chance for survival was massive doses of chemotherapy along with radiation to my head and spine. Over several months I received 27 units of red cells, 20 units of platelet concentrates, 19 units of fresh frozen plasma and 24 platelet- pheresis products. These blood products played a major role in my recovery, counteracting the treatment-induced suppression of my blood production.

After my last marrow test in 1991, my oncologist told me I was in complete remission. I'm happy to report that God not only blessed me with a husband, daughter and my remission, He blessed me with another baby, a healthy boy born on February 27, 1997.

So I would like to thank everyone who donated blood or platelets, and urge every able person to donate to help others like me.