SICKLE CELL PATIENT CURED THROUGH CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL FIRST STEM CELL TRANSPLANT

SICKLE CELL PATIENT CURED THROUGH CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL’S FIRST STEM CELL TRANSPLANT

Doctors at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital conducted the organization’s first stem cell transplant in a sickle cell disease patient, effectively curing 12-year-old Valeria Vargas-Olmedo of the inherited blood disease in early 2019.

Valeria had lived with sickle cell disease since birth. The disease causes a shortage of red blood cells, and thus an oxygen deficiency in one’s body. This can cause chronic pain and other serious complications, such as infection, acute chest syndrome and stroke. Without oxygen, any organ has a high likelihood of dying off.

Her family began seeking treatment last year after she became incapacitated, unable to continue daily activities such as attending school, getting into a car or even walking. Doctors said she had debilitating chronic pain, bone loss and bone necrosis.

Children’s Hospital doctors had worked for nearly a year to build a program focused on helping hematology patients, specifically ones with hemophilia and sickle cell disease, like Valeria.

Akshat Jain, MD, a pediatric physician specializing in hematologic disorders at Children’s Hospital, said he is pleased with the outcome of the transplant and what it means for future patients suffering from sickle cell disease.

The procedure was also Children’s Hospital’s first haploidentical transplant, meaning the stem cells donated — by Valeria’s father — were only half a genomic match to her own stem cells. The transplant team infused the father’s cells directly into the patient after conditioning chemotherapy to replace the unhealthy blood-forming cells.

Clara Olmedo, Valeria’s mother, said, “Firstly, we want to thank God. We also want to thank Dr. Jain and his entire transplant team. Finally, thanks to Valeria’s father — he did everything he could in order to save her life and give her health through being a donor. My daughter is much more animated now — she’s begun walking, she’s eating and gaining weight, she’s happy. Little by little she is living a normal life like before.”

The Vargas-Olmedo family want to encourage others families who are struggling with sickle cell disease. “For the parents who see the news of this transplant and deal with this sickness, I hope they are encouraged and know that Children’s Hospital is a great hospital,” Clara Olmedo said. “There are many good doctors, professionals and excellent nurses. I encourage them to ask more questions about this procedure and our experience. They’ve helped us tremendously, and we have our trust in them.”