Kailee Wells has become somewhat of a hero in New Mexico since her public battle with aplastic anemia began.
The seven-year-old girl, who doctors say has no more than a year to live, has become the posterchild for bone marrow donations that can help the more than 3,000 people in the United States who will die without a bone marrow transplant.
Kailee's aplastic anemia is one of the 70 diseases that are treatable through successful marrow transplants.
Several state dignitaries and many UNM students have become involved with her fight to live. Gov. Bill Richardson proclaimed February National Donor Month in New Mexico and several other state representatives have lent their support to organize bone marrow drives in hopes of finding a match for Kailee, her father, Owen, said.
The biggest drive to date is planned for Saturday in Santa Fe at the La Fonda Hotel.
Kailee's parents and everyone involved, including several UNM students, have their fingers crossed hoping the drive will result in some life-saving connections between donor and patient.
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The event is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Normally red and white blood cells come from stem cells in bone marrow, said Dr. Beverly Kloeppel, associate director of the Student Health Center. When a person gets aplastic anemia those cells are absent or reduced so the body can't produce the blood cells that it needs, she said.
The Wells' family adopted Kailee from China when she was less than two years old. The family moved to Albuquerque soon after.
Kailee started getting sick shortly after her fifth birthday, her father said. Since then she has received many different treatments including chemotherapy and experimental treatments to treat her rare disease.
Kailee and her mother stay in Milwaukee where her doctor is, and Owen travels back and forth every two weeks or so, he said.
Wells said they have rented a house, and Kailee is in and out of the hospital.
The process to get tested is easy, said Faye Jones of the National Marrow Donor Program with United Blood Services. All a potential donor needs to do is be 18-60 years of age, fill out a questionnaire and have a few drops of blood taken.
They are then put on the National Marrow Donor Program Registry. If they are a match for Kailee or any other person, they will be contacted, Jones said.
Students may also go to United Blood Services in Albuquerque to get tested.
Since Kailee has become ill, Owen and his wife, Linda, have made it their mission to help not only Kailee but also others with bone marrow diseases, he said.
"The drive is especially seeking minorities because they are underrepresented in the national registry," Wells said. "Our family's mission is to save as many lives as we can."
People interested in volunteering at Saturday's drive can contact Owen Wells at 239-2361.
To learn more about Kailee and how to help her and anyone else stricken with one of these rare diseases, visit her Web site at www.kaileegetwells.com.
