We Can Help Ashante' Sloan Fight Aplastic Anemia
Ashante’ Sloan, the middle child of the late Dr. Albert J. H. Sloan II, former President of Miles College, and Mrs. Emma Lee Sloan of Birmingham, AL, was diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia in October 2008.
With Aplastic Anemia coursing through your bloodstream are red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets, which all are important to your health. These blood components are produced in your bone marrow—the red, spongy core of many of your bones.
Anemia occurs when blood is low in red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen from your lungs to all parts of your body. Without enough red blood cells, your body can't get all of the oxygen it needs and you feel fatigued.
In aplastic anemia, the bone marrow stops producing enough new blood cells. This means that you have not only a deficit of red blood cells but also a shortage of white blood cells to fight germs and platelets to help blood clot. You're at higher risk of infections and uncontrolled bleeding. Aplastic anemia is not a single disease, but a group of closely related disorders characterized by the failure of the bone marrow to produce all three types of blood cells: red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Aplastic anemia is rare, affecting fewer than 1,000 people each year in the United States. The exact cause of aplastic anemia is unknown, although it has been linked to exposure to chemicals such as benzene and radiation. It is also believed that some cases of aplastic anemia are inherited and that some cases are due to a viral infection.
The cause is a mistaken immune system response that destroys bone marrow. A condition known as secondary aplastic anemia can develop when bone marrow is damaged by cancer, chemotherapy, certain medications, pregnancy or exposure to toxic substances. Treatments may include observation for very mild cases, medications, blood transfusions and bone marrow transplantation. Once considered nearly always fatal, aplastic anemia has a much better prognosis today thanks to advances in treatment.
Ashante’ is in need of a Bone Marrow Transplant, and organized three marrow transplant drives in Charlotte, NC; Atlanta, GA; and Birmingham, AL. Four potential donors have been identified on the Be The Match Registry, operated by the National Marrow Donor Program. Although none of the potential donors is a perfect match (they are all 9 out of 10), her specialist believes it is urgent that they move forward due to her condition.
Thanks be to God that one of the four potential donor’s matches and Ashante’ will receive the Bone Marrow Transplant on September 25, 2009.
The help of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church is needed to continue this fight and to proceed with the transplant. The cost of this procedure is extremely expensive with bills mounting up daily. A foundation has been set up to assist Ashante’ with all remaining donations going to her fight against future aplastic anemia patients.
Your donation can be made payable to the Albert J.H. Sloan Transplant Fund, Account #2000049177688, at any Wachovia Bank. Please email her at ashantesloan@yahoo.com when you make your donation. We want to thank everyone personally.
Also, please save your receipts for your records and remember, A Life That You Save May Be Your Very Own.
Photo shows Ashante Sloan (center) with sisters Alescia (l) and Ashaki Sloan Means (r). Submitted by Carla L. Flakes, Ed.S, Miles Chapel CME Church, Fairfield, AL.
In aplastic anemia, the bone marrow stops producing enough new blood cells. This means that you have not only a deficit of red blood cells but also a shortage of white blood cells to fight germs and platelets to help blood clot. You're at higher risk of infections and uncontrolled bleeding. Aplastic anemia is not a single disease, but a group of closely related disorders characterized by the failure of the bone marrow to produce all three types of blood cells: red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Aplastic anemia is rare, affecting fewer than 1,000 people each year in the United States. The exact cause of aplastic anemia is unknown, although it has been linked to exposure to chemicals such as benzene and radiation. It is also believed that some cases of aplastic anemia are inherited and that some cases are due to a viral infection.
The cause is a mistaken immune system response that destroys bone marrow. A condition known as secondary aplastic anemia can develop when bone marrow is damaged by cancer, chemotherapy, certain medications, pregnancy or exposure to toxic substances. Treatments may include observation for very mild cases, medications, blood transfusions and bone marrow transplantation. Once considered nearly always fatal, aplastic anemia has a much better prognosis today thanks to advances in treatment.
Ashante’ is in need of a Bone Marrow Transplant, and organized three marrow transplant drives in Charlotte, NC; Atlanta, GA; and Birmingham, AL. Four potential donors have been identified on the Be The Match Registry, operated by the National Marrow Donor Program. Although none of the potential donors is a perfect match (they are all 9 out of 10), her specialist believes it is urgent that they move forward due to her condition.
Thanks be to God that one of the four potential donor’s matches and Ashante’ will receive the Bone Marrow Transplant on September 25, 2009.
The help of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church is needed to continue this fight and to proceed with the transplant. The cost of this procedure is extremely expensive with bills mounting up daily. A foundation has been set up to assist Ashante’ with all remaining donations going to her fight against future aplastic anemia patients.
Your donation can be made payable to the Albert J.H. Sloan Transplant Fund, Account #2000049177688, at any Wachovia Bank. Please email her at ashantesloan@yahoo.com when you make your donation. We want to thank everyone personally.
Also, please save your receipts for your records and remember, A Life That You Save May Be Your Very Own.
Photo shows Ashante Sloan (center) with sisters Alescia (l) and Ashaki Sloan Means (r). Submitted by Carla L. Flakes, Ed.S, Miles Chapel CME Church, Fairfield, AL.
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