A 5-year-old Alabama boy met the bone marrow donor who saved his life for the first time, according to a report published September 7. Dewontis Groomster Jr. was diagnosed with Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome, a rare genetic condition that affects the function of a child’s immune system.
Dewontis Groomster Sr. said he noticed signs of a problem when his son was a baby, including unusual bruising and changes in behavior. After being told he was fine at a hospital in Montgomery, the family sought further help in Birmingham due to discoloration.
According to Children’s of Alabama, the boy spent the first two years of his life being evaluated by various doctors. After being admitted for nephrotic syndrome, a kidney condition causing excessive protein loss and severe swelling, a diagnostic workup including genetic testing confirmed a diagnosis of Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome.
Medical officials stated the condition is linked to the X chromosome and primarily affects men and boys. It can lead to eczema, frequent infections due to white blood cell impact, and blood clotting issues that cause excessive bleeding. The Cleveland Clinic notes the condition is rare; an estimated three per million men are diagnosed, totaling fewer than 5,000 people in the U.S.
By age three, doctors at Children’s of Alabama determined a bone marrow transplant was his best chance for a healthy future. Dewontis underwent chemotherapy prior to the transplant to remove his existing immune system and bone marrow.
The transplant resulted in complications, including severe tongue swelling that prevented Dewontis from speaking for approximately six months and made eating difficult, requiring a feeding tube. After spending seven months at Children’s Hospital, the swelling subsided and he began to recover. He now plays football and basketball.
Children’s of Alabama organized a meeting between Dewontis and his donor, Carolyn Daniels, who is from Oklahoma. Daniels stated she would choose to be a donor again.
September is recognized as Childhood Cancer and Sickle Cell Awareness Month. Children’s of Alabama reported that 18,000 patients are diagnosed annually with life-threatening blood cancers or other diseases where stem cell transplants may be the best hope for a cure.
According to Children’s of Alabama, 75% of those patients lack a fully matched donor within their family. The Alabama Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders encourages individuals between the ages of 18 and 35 to join the donor registry via a free swab kit.
