C Montgomery Burns
16th Jun 2002, 23:18
A good cause, this one - and not just because the girl's dad is a colleague with Airways. From today's Sunday Times
Joburg shows its heart of gold
Residents flock to undergo tests to see if they are suitable bone marrow donors - but the chances of finding a match are one in 250 000. SIMPIWE PILISO
HUNDREDS of Joburgers have volunteered their bone marrow - to save the life of a four-year-old they do not know.
Kate Tomlinson's battle with malignant leukaemia has moved 150 people to undergo testing to see if they are suitable marrow donors.
And most have even forked out the R200 it costs for the tests - despite two organisations offering to split the costs.
In February Kate, from Parktown, was diagnosed with a rare form of acute myeloid leukaemia which will kill her if she does not have a bone marrow transplant.
But after her parents, sister and other family members were ruled out as donors, the family appealed to the public for help.
Residents - including the parents of Kate's sister's school pals - rushed to get in line.
Roedean Junior School principal Jan Mallen said the school had found out about Kate's condition after she was diagnosed and parents had quickly rallied to get tested.
Kate's seven-year-old sister, Sarah, is a Grade 2 pupil at the school.
"The response has been overwhelming," Mallen said. "We're still waiting for the results from all the people tested. But the more people who get tested the better the chance we'll find a match. The chances of finding a perfect match are one in 250 000.
"Kate needs a bone marrow transplant desperately and we have fairly little time to find a donor."
One parent who volunteered, Nikki McCormack, said she had felt no hesitation about donating her bone marrow. "Once you've met Kate, you can't help but want to come forward and get tested, " she said.
Kate's father, Paul, said his colleagues at South African Airways - where he works as a pilot - and even corporate executives had volunteered to be tested.
Tomlinson said his family was stunned when they were informed that Kate had the disease.
"Only one in 100 000 children is diagnosed with leukaemia, so we had never even considered that possibility when Kate became sick."
The Tomlinsons noticed in November that something was wrong after Kate started bruising easily on her arms and legs and started suffering from severe throat and ear infections.
They visited a specialist who gave her a clean bill of health. But when Kate's condition deteriorated, her parents took her to another specialist who gave them the shocking news.
Tomlinson said Kate - who has already undergone two "intense" chemotherapy sessions - had been informed of her disease to prepare her for the changes that would occur in her body.
But he said she was strong and had handled the truth, and the treatment, well.
- Anyone wanting to be tested should call Anne on 083-377-8608 or Nikki on 082-806-9889.
Joburg shows its heart of gold
Residents flock to undergo tests to see if they are suitable bone marrow donors - but the chances of finding a match are one in 250 000. SIMPIWE PILISO
HUNDREDS of Joburgers have volunteered their bone marrow - to save the life of a four-year-old they do not know.
Kate Tomlinson's battle with malignant leukaemia has moved 150 people to undergo testing to see if they are suitable marrow donors.
And most have even forked out the R200 it costs for the tests - despite two organisations offering to split the costs.
In February Kate, from Parktown, was diagnosed with a rare form of acute myeloid leukaemia which will kill her if she does not have a bone marrow transplant.
But after her parents, sister and other family members were ruled out as donors, the family appealed to the public for help.
Residents - including the parents of Kate's sister's school pals - rushed to get in line.
Roedean Junior School principal Jan Mallen said the school had found out about Kate's condition after she was diagnosed and parents had quickly rallied to get tested.
Kate's seven-year-old sister, Sarah, is a Grade 2 pupil at the school.
"The response has been overwhelming," Mallen said. "We're still waiting for the results from all the people tested. But the more people who get tested the better the chance we'll find a match. The chances of finding a perfect match are one in 250 000.
"Kate needs a bone marrow transplant desperately and we have fairly little time to find a donor."
One parent who volunteered, Nikki McCormack, said she had felt no hesitation about donating her bone marrow. "Once you've met Kate, you can't help but want to come forward and get tested, " she said.
Kate's father, Paul, said his colleagues at South African Airways - where he works as a pilot - and even corporate executives had volunteered to be tested.
Tomlinson said his family was stunned when they were informed that Kate had the disease.
"Only one in 100 000 children is diagnosed with leukaemia, so we had never even considered that possibility when Kate became sick."
The Tomlinsons noticed in November that something was wrong after Kate started bruising easily on her arms and legs and started suffering from severe throat and ear infections.
They visited a specialist who gave her a clean bill of health. But when Kate's condition deteriorated, her parents took her to another specialist who gave them the shocking news.
Tomlinson said Kate - who has already undergone two "intense" chemotherapy sessions - had been informed of her disease to prepare her for the changes that would occur in her body.
But he said she was strong and had handled the truth, and the treatment, well.
- Anyone wanting to be tested should call Anne on 083-377-8608 or Nikki on 082-806-9889.