When she was just one week old, Charlotte Akers of Wake County, North Carolina, was diagnosed with a severe and rare genetic disorder that prevents the body from building an immune system. Without a bone marrow transplant, children with Charlotte’s condition usually don’t survive past age two. Her family shared her story publicly to help find a donor through the National Marrow Donor Program.
About six months after the family’s outreach, a 90% bone marrow match was found in Poland. The anonymous donor had no prior connection to the Akers family, and Charlotte underwent a successful transplant last summer around her first birthday. Her parents, Lindsey and Alex Akers, expressed gratitude to the donor, saying his decision to donate has given their daughter a chance to live.
After undergoing months of treatment at UNC Children’s Hospital in Chapel Hill, including chemotherapy and extended hospital stays, Charlotte was discharged in September, with staff celebrating her progress in the hallways. Now back home, Charlotte continues to improve, with shorter medication routines, growing development, and plans for her family’s first trip together a few months from now.
Source: WRAL
photo: GETTY