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An Experience in Miracles

Christopher Brown

Like many young boys his age, 8-year old Christopher Brown of Albany, NY goes to school everyday, plays with friends and loves sports. Yet, with his vivacious smile and sparkling eyes, Christopher's existence is a story of exceptional triumph over the odds. For nearly half of his life he has battled with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic systems, and he has needed numerous single-donor (apheresis) platelet transfusions to help him on his path to recovery.

In June 1998, Christopher was 4-years old when his grandmother and guardian, Sharon Darmetco, discovered a bump on his neck that was quickly growing in size. Three weeks later doctors at Albany Medical Center diagnosed Christopher with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, and chemotherapy treatments soon followed. Because chemotherapy destroys cancerous and healthy cells alike, Christopher's count of healthy, functioning platelets began to lessen. Like many cancer patients, he needed platelet transfusions to strengthen his body against the cancer and the treatments.

During his first transfusion with random platelets, or platelets that are produced from a number of different whole blood donations, Christopher began to shake uncontrollably as his system went into shock. He was unable to receive the random platelets because the transfusion reactions were too great. However, he could safely receive single-donor (apheresis) platelets. The combination of chemotherapy and single-donor platelet transfusions helped Christopher to go into remission only months after his initial diagnosis with cancer. His struggle, however, was not over.

In May 2000, Christopher was 6- years old when his cancer abruptly returned. This time however, the cancer was in the advanced fourth stage. Unless he could withstand further chemotherapy and radiation treatments and a bone marrow transplant from his younger brother, Alex, doctors believed he would have one year to live. "This was the hardest fight," says Darmetco, "…but Christopher is a champ. He prevailed throughout his therapy when things became really tough. These sick kids are special; not like other children…they have seen and done more in less time than most adults have."

Christopher successfully went through chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant. He needed more platelets to see him through the recovery period. Even after being discharged from the hospital, he received platelet transfusions for six continuous weeks. Today, his doctors still closely monitor him, but Christopher has now been in remission for 1˝ years. "He's in school getting A's. He's a normal kid and he's happy again. It's been an experience in miracles because I know that he might not have been here today," says Darmetco.

"How do you thank a donor for helping a child to have life? There are no words. 'Thank you' just isn't enough," says Darmetco. Christopher has begun playing baseball and was recently in a school pageant where he was able to sing and stand alongside his classmates. Darmetco says, "I don't know if donors realize how thankful Christopher and I are that they donate their platelets. We were lucky that there were enough donors for him. If this brings out just one more donor to help one more child, then I'm happy."