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A Ray of Hope: One Woman's Triumph over Cancer  Dr. George Carrum Hematologist, Center for Cell and Gene Therapy At that point, Monica was transferred to The Methodist Hospital's Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, where she met George Carrum, M.D., hematologist. "The purpose of cell and gene therapy is to provide transplants for patients with different diseases, such as leukemia, lymphoma and bone marrow disorders," Dr. Carrum says. Before a transplant could be performed, Monica and Dr. Carrum needed to find the last piece of the puzzle: a donor. Finding a Donor When searching for a donor, doctors typically start with a patient’s siblings because there is a 25% chance that a brother or sister will be a match. However, Monica does not have biological siblings, so the search expanded to a national registry of donors. "We were able to find a female donor who provided a close match for Monica," Dr. Carrum says. After receiving the news, Monica felt blessed as she began to prepare for the transplant.  Monica Saynez with daughter Paola. Physicians in the Cell and Gene Therapy Center typically perform two types of transplants for patients with benign or malignant diseases: allogeneic or autologous. Monica received the former, in which stem cells are collected from a donor and injected into the patient to help produce new, healthy stem cells within the bone marrow. There are two ways to collect stem cells from donors – either from the bone marrow directly in the operating room or through a procedure in which the donor is given shots of Neupogen under the skin to stimulate white cells, which then release bone marrow cells. "After five days of injections, the donor is put on a machine that collects the stem cells. They can be used fresh through an IV (in Monica's case) or stored away," says Dr. Carrum. Every Day Is a New Day Monica's transplant was successful and she is now in remission. "Thanks to my donor and my physicians at The Methodist Hospital, I'm here," she says. "I'm living a normal life, and I'm so happy to be with my 3-year-old daughter. Every survivor feels fortunate to have a second chance at life." Monica was able to meet her donor a year after the transplant and now considers her a friend and sister. "This beautiful lady not only became my donor but sent me cards and letters of encouragement during a difficult time." To show her gratitude for the care and support she received, Monica is volunteering at The Methodist Hospital two days a week. "If I can give back just a little, I'll be happy," she says.
The Methodist Hospital is involved in
novel research, such as immunotherapies
and vaccine therapies, to help discover
new treatments for cancer. You can
make a difference in a cancer patient’s
life by becoming a stem cell donor.
New donors are needed daily, and the
donation process can be completed
right at The Methodist Hospital. For more
information, please call 888-285-5314 or visit www.methodisthealth.com/cancer. |