Here's the Story

Kirstenmumof3 wrote: My friend called this morning to let us know that we made the front page of the local paper! I'm in shock! Here's the link: http://www.chroniclejournal.com/

gr33n3y3z replied: It wont come up page unfound

Kirstenmumof3 replied: It just worked for me!

kimberley replied: wow, that was fast! i think they did a great job

gr33n3y3z replied: This so stinks I tried to load it 10 times and I still get the same message can someone copy and paste it or something

kimberley replied: Little girl’s stem cells could save big brother
By JONATHAN WILSON
Dec 8, 2006, 00:15

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The Tilbury family, from left, Mark, Spencer, Kirsten, Emily and Claudia are hoping for positive results when Claudia donates stem cells to Spencer next month.
Four-year-old Claudia Tilbury is proud of the Christmas gift she’s giving her older brother — the stem cells which could save his life.
Spencer Tilbury, 9, suffers from myelodysplastic syndrome, a deadly bone marrow disease which normally occurs in the elderly. The only potential cure is a bone marrow or stem cell transplant.
Little Claudia is the only member of the family who tested positive as a donor, after parents Mark and Kirsten, and older sister Emily were found to have improper markers in their bone marrow.
“Who knew just how important she would be to Spencer, and to all of us,” her dad said.
Added mom Kirsten: “She’s very proud of that.”
Without the transplant, Spencer’s lack of white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets will lead to acute leukemia, and make him susceptible to every virus he would come into contact with.
“It is very life-threatening,” Kirsten said. “If this transplant doesn’t work, there is no hope.”
The delicate procedure to transfuse Claudia’s stem cells into Spencer was attempted last year, but failed.
Mark Tilbury said their initial shock and devastation was dispelled when doctors at Toronto’s Sick Kids Hospital told them a second attempt could work — if high dosages of radiation were added to the chemotherapy to wipe out Spencer’s damaged immune system beforehand.
“(If) he has no immune system when her cells are being introduced, he is getting her immune system,” Tilbury explained.
“That hopefully recharges the bone marrow and it then starts to generate all the blood products that it’s supposed to generate without the myelodysplastic syndrome.”
Spencer’s rare condition was diagnosed last December.
On Christmas Eve, family members noticed the boy, then 8, was pale, sluggish and short of breath.
The family brought him to the emergency department on Boxing Day. He underwent an immediate blood transfusion and was airlifted to Toronto the next day.

Since then, he’s endured 13 blood transfusions, 24 platelet transfusions, six bone marrow biopsies, extensive chemotherapy, and has spent most of the past year in hospital in Toronto. He’s also dealt with a blood infection, an eye infection and a mysterious rash over his whole body.
One long-time clinical trial nurse told the family Spencer’s ordeal is the worst she’s seen in all her years of nursing.
“He has an indomitable spirit,” Mark Tilbury said about his son.
Added Kirsten: “For the most part he does remain positive about his illness and will not think anything negatively about it.”
The parents said Claudia was “a real trooper” last year when the original stem cell procedure was done. She was hooked up to a machine for about five hours, and received a blood transfusion to replace her own blood while it was being spun and harvested for stem cells.
“She sang through the whole procedure,” Kirsten said, tears welling in her eyes.
“It was amazing, she didn’t complain and she was very co-operative.”
Doctors have said the second transfusion attempt should be done as soon as possible, but recommended the family stay home for the month of December.
“They wanted us to have the best Christmas we possibly could,” Kirsten said.
The family will travel to Toronto on Jan. 5.
Spencer will take with him the pictures and autographs he’s received from most of the Toronto Maple Leafs, along with an autographed basketball from the Toronto Raptors. He’ll also be proudly wearing his St. Patrick’s Saints football jersey, autographed and given to him by the team.
Spencer’s classmates and teachers at St. Martin School organized fundraisers for the Tilbury family earlier this year, raising more than $2,000.
The Canadian Mental Health Association, where Kirsten worked before she headed for Toronto last year with Spencer, has also been collecting donations for the family.

jem0622 replied: That is such a fantastic story about Spencer and his brave sister. I am so very glad that they brought your story to the public and hope you get even more support as you nervously await the next procedure.

BTW, I was able to open the article from your link.

Hillbilly Housewife replied:

PrairieMom replied: Great story!

sparkys2boys replied: great story, it brought tears to my eyes to think about what your family is going through. I hope the second treatment works, prayers will be with you all.

booey2 replied: Okay I am sitting here as I read this and my co-workers think I am nuts. They did a great job on the article.

Our Lil' Family replied: I am so glad they made sure it had a positive spin to it! What brave little ones you have there Kirsten!!

C&K*s Mommie replied: That is a great story for them to do to spread the word on brave little Spencer, and his incredible sister Claudia.

Your family will be in my thoughts and prayers as you prepare for this next phase of treatment.

punkeemunkee'smom replied: That is a really well written story! We are still praying!

lesliesmom replied: Great article!!! Thoughts and prayers continue for your family during this Christmas season and during the next phase of treatment.

cameragirl21 replied: what a great story, Kirsten! and i absolutely LOVE the way they took the picture!
Your children are so brave!

lisar replied: They did a great job writing that. I am still so sorry about what you and your family are going thru. I couldnt begin to imagine. Stay strong.

DansMom replied: I'm always talking to DH about Spencer and how he's doing, without thinking about the little hero named Claudia who makes hope possible. I'm going to print out this article so DH can read it.

BAC'sMom replied: Great story

huggybugboy replied: great article and adorable picture!

CantWait replied: Great story, hopefully it's just the beginning of great things.

amynicole21 replied: Oh Kirsten, that's a GREAT article! WTG Claudia!

coasterqueen replied: I read the article this morning at home with the girls and Kylie was wondering why I was crying. Great article.

Sarah&Mackenzie replied: Very nice article

grapfruit replied: Wow, I agree with everyone else. That was an amazing story.

Calimama replied: It was a great article.

jcc64 replied: They did a lovely job with that, Kirstin. I agree with Tracey, we often overlook what a little hero Claudia's been and continues to be.

gr33n3y3z replied:
I agree
Hugs and prayers for the family

holley79 replied: They did a great job.

Kirstenmumof3 replied: Thanks everyone! It's really funny at Claudia's Daycare as parents were dropping off and picking up there children, they kept asking if she had been in the paper. And of course she said "YES!" With this big grin on her face, such a ham!