Since early December, we have been taking donations for MaryAnna Knots, who at 3 years old, had to undergo a bone marrow transplant. MaryAnna is the daughter of Sara and SSG Joseph Knotts, and was diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia, a blood disease that causes bone marrow failure. MaryAnna’s 10-yr old brother donated his marrow, and the procedure was successfully performed at Children’s Hospital in Houston, TX this month.
Your donations assisted MaryAnna’s family with food, transportation expenses to and from Killeen, Texas, as well as lodging during MaryAnna’s surgery and recovery. The logistics that went into this were a bit more involved, as the Knotts have 10 children, so we had to get creative coordinating care and/or lodging for all, but it worked out! We would like to recognize Didem Gursel from the Residence Inn by Marriott for all of her help with this wish. MaryAnna’s surgery dates changed many times, and Didem moved mountains to accommodate the Knotts family.
The bone marrow transplant for MaryAnna was a success, and her brother, Jesse, is also doing well. MaryAnna has begun to transition to Jesse’s blood type and her platelet count is high enough that she does not currently need additional transfusions. Best of all, the bone marrow donated by Jesse is beginning to graft, which is fantastic news!
MaryAnna will hopefully be released from the hospital in the coming days, but will remain in Houston for follow-up treatment through May. There will be more hotel and travel expenses for the Knotts family, so we will continue to accept donations through April 30, 2012.
