How to save a life: Marrow donation helped Sones' daughter

Published May 4, 2012
By Staff Sgt. Timothy Boyer
60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

Travis Air Force Base, Calif. -- Many people have events in their lives that bring forth a rush of emotions. For the Sones family, one of those events is the Marrow Donor Drive coming to Travis May 14 through 18. There are many reasons for the emotions people feel during those events, for the Sones it is because bone marrow saved their daughter's life.

In 2005, as the commander of the 55th Air Refueling Squadron at Altus Air Force Base, Okla., then Lt. Col. Dwight Sones, now 60th Air Mobility Wing commander and a colonel, was busy pouring his heart into his new command. Things were going well with his squadron when his 4-year-old daughter, Karina, became pale and had a fever.

"There were no other symptoms," said Dana Sones, the wife of Colonel Sones. "They thought it was viral, but after her having a fever for six days, we went back to the pediatrician and had the diagnosis of Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia within 10 days."

Colonel Sones said he went through the spectrum of emotions when he received the news.

"I felt like I was sucker punched," he said. "The first thought was disbelief, followed by the question of why this was happening to my family. I wondered if I did something wrong to cause it and then I went into denial. The reality set in quickly though, because it's not about me or Dana, it's about Karina and getting her healthy."

The Sones' family life quickly shifted as Dana took the lead in Karina's care while Colonel Sones focused on work and keeping his sons' lives as normal as possible, and also carving out time to focus on his daughter.

"Kids crave their routine," Dana said. "Karina definitely had the desire to continue her regular life, and we did our best to help her. But in her case, she was stricken by the effects of chemotherapy, so it wasn't always possible."

Karina had 97 percent cancer cells in her bone marrow when the cancer was discovered. She went through chemotherapy for one year and four months and was in remission.

In June 2006, Karina suffered a relapse. Dana said the doctors told her Karina had a 10 percent chance of survival without a bone marrow transplant.

There were over 10 million donors in the bone marrow registry, but not one of them was a match for Karina, Dana said.

"It is important to get more people registered to donate," she said. "A bone marrow transplant has much tighter parameters for a match than other types of transplants typically do."

Karina was fortunate to get a random cord blood donation from a newborn that matched her closely enough.

"Stem cells, found in cord blood and marrow, is what they were able to use for Karina," Dana explained. "Cord blood provides enough cells for a child but not an adult. There are great benefits immunologically for adult marrow donors in the transplant process."

Since the donor wasn't a perfect match for Karina, her new white blood cells continue to attack her old immune system leaving her skin red and inflamed. This is an effect of Graft-Versus-Host disease.

One difficulty of this disease is caused by the drugs Karina must now take to remain healthy, Dana said. They suppress her immune system, leaving her with no immunity of her own.

"She gets human antibodies every month so she can have some protection," Dana said.

One risk faced daily due to lowered immunity is the risk of infection.

"The most challenging moment for me was in April to May of 2010 when an infection put our daughter in the intensive care unit," Colonel Sones said as he looked to the ground.

"She was on a ventilator, kidney machine and had tubes all over her."

Though there are struggles to this day, the Sones said they are grateful to have her daughter alive and well.

In all the struggles, Colonel Sones said every day is the new best day since his daughter's diagnosis.

"She gets a little better every day," he said.

To those who have children with special needs, Dana has advice.

"Utilize the support groups," she said. "Don't feel alone. If you need something, ask. If people offer to help you, learn to accept it. There are so many resources available if you are willing to use them."

As for their perspective on life, it has shifted since dealing with the struggles of this childhood illness.

"Karina's life has been an example of resilience," Dana said. "We definitely cherish our family time. We're grateful for today."