Jennifer Matthews: Whether it's putting together a puzzle or playing his favorite game, 6-year-old Charles has energy. In fact, many people are surprised to learn Charles suffers from leukemia.
Reshonda Hills: He's just so full of energy and running around like nothing is going on.
Jennifer Matthews: But it wasn't too long ago that Charles needed a blood stem cell transplant, the problem his family couldn't find a donor match. Luckily researchers from St. Jude are testing a method that uses mismatched related donors.
Dr. Gregory Hale: Now those types of transplants are typically fraught with more side effects because of that mismatch,
Jennifer Matthews: But Dr. Hale performs what's called a reduced intensity transplant to minimize the side effects. First, cells are taken from the mismatched donor and processed in a machine. It separates out "bad" T-cells that could cause problems after the transplant. Then, the "good" cells are injected into the patient. The new method requires less chemo and no radiation.
Dr. Gregory Hale: It's actually very exciting because we are seeing patients not dying from infections, not spending the whole day in the medicine room.
Jennifer Matthews: In a study children recovered more quickly and had fewer infections with the reduced intensity treatment. Charles's dad was his donor and the transplant was a success.
Charles Hills: it's like when I got out of the hospital, I was glad.
Jennifer Matthews: And so was mom.
Reshonda Hills: He's doing well, and he's coping with it very good, so I mean we just take one day forward.
Jennifer Matthews: And Charles plans on enjoying each and everyone. This is Jennifer Matthews reporting.
Transcription by:
Scribe4you Transcription Services