Baby with rare, deadly disease gets gift of life - bone marrow transplant for an infant at the Wilford Hall Medical Center - Brief Article

Airman, March, 2001 by Sue Campbell

LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- A baby with an extremely rare blood disease was given a second chance at life, thanks to the Wilford Hall Medical Center bone marrow transplant unit.

Lawrence Sii was first brought home a year ago from the Navy hospital in Yokosuka, Japan. His father, Navy Petty Officer 2nd class Lincoln Sii, and mother, Ana, noticed he started getting sick all the time.

After several medical evaluations, physicians discovered Lawrence had an immune deficiency disease called Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II deficiency. The disease is extremely rare, with fewer than 100 cases diagnosed in medical history. Similar to the "boy in the bubble," Lawrence had virtually no chance of fighting infection. Even immunizations had no effect. Without treatment, he would die by age 2 or 3.

Doctors determined a bone marrow transplant was his only hope. Lawrence's 2-year-old sister, April, was found to be a perfect match. In September, the family traveled to the only military medical facility that performs pediatric bone marrow transplants -- Wilford Hall Medical Center.

First, chemotherapy treatments removed all of Lawrence's bone marrow cells so his sister's could take their place and hopefully build him a normal immune system. Then April's bone marrow was harvested and immediately transplanted into Lawrence.

Lawrence's prognosis is good. The Sil's are temporarily living in a small apartment near Wilford Hall while the baby is treated and monitored on an outpatient basis.

At home, Lawrence can be around his family, but they must limit contact and wear masks if they show any sign of illness. To protect him from infection they can't take him out unless they are able to keep him away from people who may be ill.

"We won't know for sure until later this year if the transplant's a complete success and April's cells have corrected Lawrence's problem," explained Maj. (Dr.) Michael Grimley, Wilford Hall pediatric hematology! oncology clinic chief. "But, if his immune system recovers fully, he'll be a normal child a year from now."

The Defense Department has set aside special funds to help bone marrow transplant patients. The funds paid for the Sii's transportation to Texas and help with their living expenses while in the San Antonio area.