pediatric patient / parent
“Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere.”
Person's Name:
Jeff Paccione
On April 15, 2007, my husband Jeff, age 39, tucked our two and three year old boys into bed. He suddenly yelled down to me in a concerned voice, “Honey, my vision is slightly distorted, and it must be a migraine. I’m going to lay down for a bit.”
Bone Marrow Disease(s):
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I'm Like You: Briana Donis
Person's Name:
Briana Donis
Homecoming queen and top student Briana Donis always wanted to go to the University of Texas at Austin.
“I was having a pretty awesome year. I was very well known at school and I had a boyfriend.” She had just been accepted at the school of her choice when she noticed how really tired she was all the time. And then the bleeding started.
Bone Marrow Disease(s):
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My Life is Making a Difference
Person's Name:
Denise Beauchemin
Beginning September 2012, I just wasn’t feeling quite right. I was increasingly fatigued and there were some perplexing bleeding incidents, as well. After many months I experienced partial vision – just little areas of vision that were blank. Internal bleeding in the eyes was causing this, and my eye doctor knew it was serious and even thought it could be leukemia.
Bone Marrow Disease(s):
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I'm Like You: Ricky Smith, Jr.
Person's Name:
Ricky Smith, Jr.
Bone Marrow Disease(s):
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I'm Like You: Anna Sobon
Person's Name:
Anna Sobon
19-year-old Anna Sobon had been a typical college sophomore, active and full of plans about making her dreams come true.
When she began to get increasingly tired, she thought it was due to her hectic schedule or maybe some lingering after-effects of her bout with mononucleosis the previous summer. Even as her strength was dwindling, Anna stayed determined to keep up with her daily routines while she waited for her symptoms to simply go away.
Bone Marrow Disease(s):
Content source:
My Son's Aplastic Anemia
Person's Name:
Sue Gabriele
My son Jamie was a very sick child. He was in full-time daycare at the age of 12 months, so he caught every cold and infection imaginable. He’d be on one antibiotic and then need another due to a secondary infection.
Bone Marrow Disease(s):
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Related Diseases
Bone marrow failure includes other diseases and conditions that are related to aplastic anemia, MDS and PNH. AAMDSIF extends its programs, services and support to patients and families suffering from these rare diseases as well.