Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Bone Marrow Drive Is Set

Nothing in the world is harder for a parent than having their child ill.

It is especially difficult when the child is suffering from a form of leukemia that attacks the bone, and the parent is a single mother.

This is the case for Joyce Webb and her daughter, Crystal Sanders.

Sanders, 15, formerly of Gurdon, was first diagnosed with leukemia on Oct. 1, 1998. She went into remission and was doing well for a while.

She took the treatment prescribed and gained enough strength to return to school.

Then, though, the cancer returned with Sanders going out of remission around Jan. 18, 2000, and now fighting for her life.

She is in need of a bone marrow transplant that none of her family can give. Apparently, according to family friend Liz Hill, the family members are not matches for the type of marrow transplant Sanders needs.

For her to survive, Hill said, she must go into remission again within a month.

Meanwhile, Hill and Webb have been working to set up a marrow drive at Central Baptist Church in Prescott Monday, Feb. 21. This drive will consist of a simple blood test and will be conducted from noon until 8 p.m., being supervised by the Bone Marrow Unit of Dallas, Texas.

According to Hill, the first 30 Ccaucasian donors will be tested free, with the rest being charged $21 for testing.

Minorities will be tested at no charge because the need is great and few bother to donate.

Still, she said, those who can't afford to be tested should go anyway, because donations will help cover the cost of the test.

Hill and Webb have been lifelong friends, sharing almost everything. They now share a bond both would rather not.

Hill lost a daughter, Kelly, to Hodgkins a little more than a year ago and his now helping her friend go through the ordeal.

"I felt helpless when Crystal was diagnosed," she said. "I was still grieving the death of my daughter."

A bank account for Sanders has been established at the Nevada County Branch Bank of Delight. Donations made to this account will help defray the cost of Webb taking her daughter to and from Arkansas Children's Hospital every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

The family has no insurance as Webb is unable to work because she must constantly be with her ailing child and drive her to and from medical appointments.

Hill said the human body replaces bone marrow in the same manner it does blood after donations are made. Because of this, donors are in no danger of running out of marrow.

"Even of those testing aren't matches for Crystal," Hill said, "they may be a match for someone else. Even if it costs $21 for testing, if it helps save a life it's not spent in vain.

Sanders, before getting sick, enjoyed life. She loved to skate and talk with her friends on the phone. She was also a talented artists and loved drawing.

Now, with a weakened immune system she battles for her life and is relying on the kindness of others to help her with her fight.

Hill said a benefit auction is being planned at this time and details will be announced when all have been finalized.

For more information on the marrow drive, call Hill at 887-8146.