Dec 17, 2007 4:23 pm US/Eastern
Bone Marrow Transplant Helps Boy Overcome Leukemia
by Lisa Hughes
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
Tuesday is WBZTV's Day of Giving. It is to benefit Children's Hospital Boston, and highlight the hospital's life-saving work.
Lisa Hughes brings us the story of one little boy who faced down leukemia with the help of the doctors and nurses at Children's.
Lisa: "What were you diagnosed with?"
Connor: "Leukemia."
Lisa: "And how old were you?"
Connor: "6."
Connor Flanagan of Tyngsboro is almost eight now, and a terrific Xbox player. But two years ago, the diagnosis shocked his family.
"I was in shock. You know, in my mind cancer doesn't happen to little kids," said Connor's mother Jennifer Flanagan.
Connor spent six months at Children's Hospital and endured several rounds of chemotherapy that usually knocks out the kind of leukemia Connor had. But this time, it did not.
"This indicated that his leukemia was, in fact, quite aggressive," said Dr. Steven DuBois, Connor's oncologist. "Our next strategy was a bone marrow transplant."
Not only was it the next strategy, it was really the only strategy left.
"Even the doctors here, some of whom are the best in the world, told us it may not work," said Jennifer Flanagan.
So about a year ago Connor received a bone marrow transplant from an unrelated donor, and it worked.
"His bone marrow transplant and his bone marrow donor saved his life," said Dr. DuBois.
Lisa: "How do you feel now?"
Connor: "Good."
Lisa: "Yeah? Better than you've felt in a long time?"
Connor: "Uh-huh."
Lisa: "What would you tell parents who come into this hospital for this treatment?"
Jennifer: "I would just remind them we're in one of the best places in the world, and that the people here, the doctors, the nurses, are going to do everything they can. They don't give up on anybody."
The Flanagan's are so grateful to Children's Hospital that they have created Team Connor to take part in the Miles for Miracles walk. So far they have raised $24,000.
All day on Tuesday, here on WBZTV, we are hosting our own special fundraiser called the Day of Giving. Please tune in and make a pledge to help the doctors and nurses at children's continue their life-saving work and breakthrough research.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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