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Maggie's Diagnosis

In early March 2005, Maggie was seeing her pediatrician for an ear-infection when her mom asked about several bruises on Maggie's legs. The doctor noted the bruises were quite red and said she would keep her eye on them. Ten days later, Maggie was back at the office for her three-year well visit. By this time, the bruises on Maggie's legs had tripled in number, and bruises were now on her trunk and arms. The doctor called for an immediate blood test. In the coming hours, Maggie's life would forever change.


Maggie's favorite treat is chocolate ice cream!
Maggie was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia; what's actually a mixed-lineage leukemia which is two types of cancer (AML and ALL). On paper it is called MLL. Doctors first targeted the more aggressive cancer, AML. Then later in May they turned their efforts to the ALL. This form of mixed-lineage is rare. It is believed that only a handful of cases will be diagnosed in the United States each year. Our family jokes that we knew Maggie was one in a million - perhaps it's quite a bit more than that.

Her best hope for being cancer free was a bone-marrow transplant. Maggie's immediate family members were not matches, and Oregon Health Sciences University Hospital began an unrelated search for a bone marrow or cord blood donor in April. A bone marrow match who matches all 12 criteria was found, and Maggie had her transplant on July 5th, 2005 at Doerbecher Children's Hospital.

Please see her Journal History to learn more.

 

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