The Molly Nash Miracle
In 1994, Molly Nash was born with Fanconi anemia, a rare and often times fatal genetic disease that affects bone marrow. In Molly's case, her body was not able to make enough bone marrow. With the help of Dr. John Wagner, a professor and scientific director of Clinical Research of the Blood and Marrow Transplant Program and Stem Cell Institute at the University of Minnesota, and stem cell research, Nash's parents were able to save their child's life.
In 2000, Molly's parents, Lisa and John Nash, decided to give birth to another child that would act as a bone marrow transplant for Molly. They used genetic screening to make sure that their second child would not be born with the Fanconi anemia, and to ensure that he would be a suitable match for the transplant. After Adam, Molly's younger brother was born, doctors from the University of Minnesota used his umbilical cord blood stem cells as a transplant. These cells saved Molly's life, and today she continues to live her life as a healthy twenty year old.
The same process that was used to save Molly's life can be applied to millions of others that suffer from similar aliments.
In 2000, Molly's parents, Lisa and John Nash, decided to give birth to another child that would act as a bone marrow transplant for Molly. They used genetic screening to make sure that their second child would not be born with the Fanconi anemia, and to ensure that he would be a suitable match for the transplant. After Adam, Molly's younger brother was born, doctors from the University of Minnesota used his umbilical cord blood stem cells as a transplant. These cells saved Molly's life, and today she continues to live her life as a healthy twenty year old.
The same process that was used to save Molly's life can be applied to millions of others that suffer from similar aliments.