Something just dosn't sit right here...

Scanr1 · 02-20-2005, 04:28 PM

Miracle Baby Could Save Big Brother's Life

Bone marrow from Harper Moore, left, may save his brother Henry, right.

By Barbara Gibbs

(02/18/05 - DURHAM) "” Henry Moore doesn't know it now, but as he holds his baby brother Harper, Henry could be holding his own life in his hands.

Henry may be oblivious to Harper's importance, but everyone else in the room knows what an absolute miracle this day is -- especially their father, Patrick Moore.

"This is a day we've prayed for, for five years -- that Henry would have a match, and it couldn't be a better match," he said.

Five years ago, Henry was born with the rare Kostmann Syndrome. Seventy percent of victims die in the first year of life. If it does not kill by age 3 or 4, an aggressive form of leukemia is almost inevitable. Henry's best chance at life is a perfectly matching sibling bone marrow transplant.

Three-year-old brother Sam is not a match. So the family had to turn to cutting-edge science to have a child with a perfect match.

The first try failed. They tried again, this time using hormone shots that produced an astounding 30 fertilized eggs in one cycle. One cell from each egg was flown to Michigan, where the real work began with Dr. James Weston.

"A team of scientists worked around the clock mapping genetic structures of each single cell," Weston said. "Among 30, only two matched Henry." Doctors implanted those two, only one took. Then, the family got a scare.

Angela Moore was bleeding, losing Henry's life-saving blood. So doctors started an emergency C-section earlier than expected. Dr. Weston trained his wife, an O.R. nurse, and teenage daughter for the critical job of collecting every drop of cord blood.

"As soon as he was born, they milked that placenta for everything it was worth," Weston said.

They rushed that blood, which they believe is enough for Henry's transplant, to Duke University Medical Center, where doctors say the transplant should happen sooner than later.

Doctors say it is a risky proposition. The procedure will kill Henry's defective bone marrow and replace it with Harper's.

"It's very difficult as a parent to take your child and subject them to that," Dr. Weston said. "Once you go down that road, there's no turning back."

Right now, Henry's parents are taking it day by day. The lab results have not proven that Harper matches Henry. The Moores will go back to Duke next week.

"You still have to believe that God has a plan," Patrick Moore said. "I think Harper is part of God's plan."

"This baby will be loved the same by this family whether or not his bone marrow matches Henry's," Weston said. "But the idea that we could create a child to do that is remarkable."

datamax · 02-20-2005, 05:05 PM

Quote:

"You still have to believe that God has a plan," Patrick Moore said. "I think Harper is part of God's plan."

With that belief they can take the little ones liver, kidney, and small intestines to implant in the older sibling and justify it.

tardfarmer · 02-20-2005, 06:07 PM

LOL,

These people are WHACK jobs. I suppose they wouldn't mind if I walked up to them and cut their livers and spleens out for transplant...

It's god will you know...

The issue of "self delusion" and religion run hand in hand. Most people that consider themselves religious are actually self important and selfish.

May they reap what they sow.

North Texan · 02-20-2005, 06:52 PM

I don't know that I really agree with things like this, but I haven't been put in that position. Hopefully, I that won't ever have to make that decision.

Pa_Sniper · 02-21-2005, 04:05 AM

Gods will?? BULL SHI*!

God never said ANYTHING about genetic cell mapping. JUST for bone marrow. Look at stem cell research and cloning.Its ALL WRONG! I am for damn sure no holy roller,but ITS AGAINST THE BIBLICAL LAWS,AND AGAINST NATURES LAW!

BenGarrett · 02-21-2005, 06:10 AM

I don't like it either. But before criticizing, let's stop and ask ourselves: If we were in that situation, with a child likely to die and we had an opportunity to do something to save their life . . . what would we do?

Never having been in that situation, I can't say for sure what I'd do. But I suspect I know what I'd wind up doing. . . and I suspect that would be the same thing that these parents did.

Charlie P · 02-21-2005, 06:12 AM

Stem cell research is wrong? Why?

Quote:

Never having been in that situation, I can't say for sure what I'd do. But I suspect I know what I'd wind up doing. . . and I suspect that would be the same thing that these parents did.

I agree with you Ben.

datamax · 02-21-2005, 08:09 AM

What if the child doesn't want to go through all this ? Either the donor or the recipient ?

Charlie P · 02-21-2005, 08:18 AM

I'd have to feed him to a crocodile.[8D]

datamax · 02-21-2005, 08:42 AM

Charlie P - I'm serious. The parents are making the decision to put a child through a huge ordeal - at what point could they be labeled abusing the child ? Taking their wild "save henry at any cost" belief to the extremes, beyond rational thinking ........ could that not be considered just a bit abusive ? For Harper or Henry ?