8-Year-Old Northbrook Girl Needs Your Help

Every year, more than 30,000 children and adults are diagnosed with life-threatening diseases for which a peripheral blood stem cell, cord blood or a bone marrow transplant could offer their only hope for a cure.

Locally, Lacey Horwitch, an 8 year old Northbrook resident is fighting two rare and simultaneous conditions: Hemophagocytic Lymphohistocytis (HLH) & Resistance to Thyroid Hormone. HLH causes the body to attack its organs. Lacey has received her father’s bone marrow, which is only a 50% match. A perfect match already exists on the National Bone Marrow Registry but registry personnel cannot locate the individual because their contact information is out of date. Some cord blood was also a perfect match, but due to an infection, by the time Lacey was healthy enough to receive the cord blood, it had expired. A few years ago, a boy in Buffalo Grove had HLH. He received a bone marrow transplant and is alive and healthy today as a result. 

A Blood Drive and Bone Marrow Donation Registry sign up event will be held Sunday at Congregation Beth Shalom. Even if potential donors are not a blood or bone marrow match for Lacey, they could help others like her.

Blood Donors - All blood types are needed. Blood donors must be at least 17 years old.  A 16 year old may donate with a signed parental consent form or a parent present. To make a blood donation: bring a photo ID, drink plenty of water the day before and up to donation and eat well.

Bone Marrow Registrants - Testing involves a simple cheek swab to be listed on the National Bone Marrow Registry.  Applicants must be between the ages of 18-60 for bone marrow registration.In Lacey’s case, bone marrow donation would involve a non-invasive procedure in which an IV is used to take the bone marrow from the donor’s blood and transplant it into Lacey, much like with a blood transfusion. Many myths persist about bone marrow donation. However, donors typically return home the dame day they donate.

Appointments are encouraged versus walk-ins. Blood donation takes longer than bone marrow registration.  The phone number to make appointments for blood donation or bone marrow registration is 877-543-3768. The phone number for donation specific questions (travel, medications, etc.) is 847-260-2647.  For more info, visit www.marrow.org.