Russell Witek
received a cord blood stem cell transplant in 2000 to treat his
leukemia. Now healthy, active and growing quickly, the
eight-year-old came to SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital last
fall to thank the doctors, nurses and technicians who made his
successful treatment possible.
Such happy reunions are cherished by the hospital staff, but this one
was unprecedented. Prior to the visit, Russell’s family had never seen
Cardinal Glennon nor met anyone associated with it.
Russell was treated for leukemia at Children’s Memorial Hospital in
Chicago with umbilical cord blood stem cells from the St. Louis Cord Blood
Bank at Cardinal Glennon. The seven-year-old bank has become the
second-largest in the world. Through the end of 2002, it had provided
units for 502 of the approximately 2,500 cord blood stem cell transplants
that have been performed worldwide.
“Russell had leukemia in June of 1998. It relapsed in July of 2000
while he was still on chemotherapy,” said his mother, Karen.
 When faced with the need to renew Russell’s
treatments, his doctors at Children’s Memorial Hospital searched the St.
Louis Cord Blood Bank and considered other options in hopes of finding a
good match for Russell’s blood type. The team was experienced in utilizing
cord blood.
“They considered a match from an adult male but they decided they liked
the benefits of the cord blood better,” Mrs. Witek said. “When we finally
decided to do the transplant, I did research to make sure we were at the
right place.”
Cord blood is one of three sources of hematopoietic stem cells that can
be used in the treatment of some cancers, immune deficiencies and genetic
metabolic and blood disorders. The first stem cell transplant was
performed in 1968 with bone marrow, which has remained the most common
source, at least for adults. Stem cells also may be collected from the
blood stream of the patient or a donor.
Hematopoietic stem cells, which continually replicate to produce new
blood cells, have been used in cancer treatments because the chemotherapy
used to kill cancer cells also kills normal cells in the body, including
the blood-forming cells in the bone marrow. After the patient has finished
chemotherapy treatments, replacement stem cells are transplanted to
replace the absent blood system.
Historically, the chances of finding a good blood match from potential
peripheral blood or bone marrow donors have been small, and cord blood has
provided another option for making a match. Knowledge gained in recent
years suggests that the younger cells in cord blood also may pose a
reduced risk of a potentially life-threatening complication called “graft
versus host disease.”
Cord blood is donated to the bank through 29
Missouri and Illinois hospitals operated by several health care systems.
After processing, blood from the cords is stored in liquid nitrogen tanks
at –290 degrees Fahrenheit. From 1996 through the end of 2002, the bank
had saved 8,500 cord blood units and had exported 502 of them to 90
medical centers in 30 states and 18 foreign countries. Units from the bank
had been used in 36 transplants performed for patients at Glennon.
After a 32-day hospital stay and a difficult recovery period, Russell
returned to his family’s home in Geneva, Illinois. He now is more than two
years past his chemotherapy and stem cell transplant.
“The doctors tell us most of the complications are done by the two-year
mark,” Mrs. Witek said. “But we need to get to five years. If you get to
five years, you are pretty much in the clear.” Russell and his older
brother, Garrett, are schooled at home. “So much time was taken from us,”
Mrs. Witek said. “We felt we needed to take that time back.”
 Russell’s father, Brian, is interested in
long-distance bicycle riding. Russell finally was able to start riding a
bike last year.
“Over half his life has been spent battling an illness. I don’t think
he remembers life before cancer,” his mother said.
Russell loves biking, swimming, playing hockey and running around like
any eight-year-old.
“I like to play tag with my friends,” he said. “I also like holding my
hamster, Rex, and going on field trips. I don’t have to wear a face mask
anymore and I’m feeling great.”
Last year Mrs. Witek wrote a letter of appreciation to the St. Louis
Cord Blood Bank. “I did not think I would get a response, but I did.”
 The family later learned that a
cross-country bicycle ride, called “The Five Points of Life,” would be
making a stop at Cardinal Glennon. Ten riders, whose families have been
touched by organ donation, pedaled from Minnesota to Florida to raise
awareness of the need for donations. The ride is named for five types of
donations that can be made — whole blood, apheresis (sub-components of the
blood), bone marrow, cord blood and solid organs and tissues. The 2002
ride came through St. Louis so it could visit the Cord Blood Bank.
So the Witeks decided to visit St. Louis when the bicycle riders would
be at Cardinal Glennon. They met the Cord Blood Bank team and toured its
facilities.
“It was awesome,” Mrs. Witek said. “We got to tell them about a little
girl who had a transplant in Chicago the week after Russell with a cord
blood unit from St. Louis. I’d like to work for them, but they are too far
away from us!”
Next year, Russell hopes to start enjoying longer bike rides with his
dad and brother. And, his mother said, the “Glennon Kid” from Chicago will
stay in touch with his new friends in St. Louis and the Witek family will
look for ways to support the St. Louis Cord Blood Bank. “If they thought
they weren’t going to see us again, they’re wrong!” |
