Katie Thomson Katie Thomson

Katie has been diagnosed with Fanconi Anemia. This is a rare genetic disorder in which a person ‘s DNA doesn’t have the ability to repair itself the way a normal person ‘s would. Kids can be born with severe birth defects or like Katie, seem completely normal until a later age when their bone marrow starts to fail.  In Katie’s case we had no idea she was ill until August 2016. The best treatment for Katie’s condition is a bone marrow transplant. Her Doctors want to wait until the last possible moment to perform the transplant because there are so many medical advances that it makes sense to wait. Katie has her blood checked every ninety days to check her hemoglobin, platelets, and, white blood cells. When any one of the three types of blood cells drop below a certain level, then Katie will be prepared for her bone marrow transplant. The treatment and survival rate for Fanconi Kids has improved so much from when they first started doing transplants. But since Katie’s cells cannot repair themselves as well as others, chemotherapy is especially hard on her. Even after a successful transplant, Fanconi Kids are at 500 times more likely to develop other certain types of cancer. 
So now after the explanation of Katie’s illness, let me tell you about what a wonderful child Katie is. Katie is very kind, sweet and affectionate. Katie is very sensitive and loving. Katie has always had a great imagination and she has always been artistic. She has been a dancer a soccer player. She’s tried playing tennis and the thing I think Katie loves the most is swimming. Katie has been taking swimming lessons since she was a toddler.  Katie has been to Hawaii and she has snorkeled and swam with sea turtles. Because of the Fanconi, Katie is always the smallest kid in her age group, but she has a huge spirit and heart. She is brave and fair and so very beautiful. I don’t know anyone who has met Katie, who didn’t love her. She just has that affect on people. I just want everyone to know what an incredible gift it is to have a child like Katie in our lives. She has made us all so happy and so grateful. Please send Katie your best wishes and offer us your support while Katie is struggling with this illness. Thank You.