Andrew Miller

Andrew Miller

My Friends Care Cancer Fund sponsored a Marrow Drive at Crittenton Medical Center, Rochester Hills, Michigan on August 19th, 2010. The drive was held on behalf of Andrew Miller, who was diagnosed with severe aplastic anemia, a rare bone marrow condition where stem cells produce too few or no platelets, red blood cells and white blood cells. Andrew has had several blood and platelet transfusions to keep his counts from reaching dangerous levels. He is at risk of having common viruses or injuries become life-threatening.

The best treatment option for this condition is a bone marrow transplant from a sibling. Andrew’s two sisters, Sophia & Madeline, were not matches nor were his parents. Andrew underwent the next treatment option, immunosuppressive drug therapy (IST). IST prevents the immune system from attacking the bone marrow and allows stem cells to grow back and blood counts to rise. If this treatment does not work, Andrew will need a bone marrow transplant from an unrelated donor.