#EmmaStrong’s story.

Emma started her fight as a 9 year old and has since turned 10. In January 2016, Emma went into borderline liver failure when her liver started to lose its ability to clot blood. The paperwork process to transfer Emma to a Liver Transplant Center began shortly after family arrived to be screened for liver transplant matches. Emma underwent every possible test but sadly no known cause was found for this sudden major organ failure. Shortly after these processes, Emma’s liver started to very slowly improve and she was released from the hospital with strict follow up instructions and appointments. Although Emma was ecstatic to return home and to school, she was not able to regain her strength and further testing was ordered with a different specialist.

In early March 2016, after these tests, results showed something was drastically wrong. Further tests were ordered and Emma needed an emergency transfusion before undergoing a bone marrow biopsy which confirmed she was in bone marrow failure. Emma had stopped making all three blood components: red blood cells, platelets, and white blood cells and was diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia. She was quickly classified as a severe case and became life dependent on platelet and red blood transfusions. Emma’s type of bone marrow failure was directly caused by her borderline liver failure. Her specific condition is called Hepatitis Associated Severe Aplastic Anemia (HASAA), and only affects 2-5% of patients out of the one in one million that are diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia.

Emma started her treatments for HASAA in Bethesda Maryland later in March 2016. However, she did not respond to initial treatments and it was decided relocation to Maryland was best. Emma decided early on that she wanted to turn her fight into a cause and she is determined in her fight to not only raise awareness for Aplastic Anemia but also help raise awareness for the need of more blood and platelet donors. Without donors, patients like Emma would not live through their treatments. She will remain on treatment for at least 2 years; and carries the possibly of needing a bone marrow transplant as this is the only known cure for Aplastic Anemia.

In June 2016, Emma began responding to her treatments and is doing well at this time but still works hard daily to raise awareness. She remains determined to turn her fight into a cause. Emma could stop making blood cells at any moment and her life would once again be placed in the hands of the donors.

Join her fight, become a donor, and save a life today!