Butterfly Rewards - earn free credits and redeem for good causes - learn more!
my care2
make a difference

community & fun

shares

share your passions, stories, inspirations, and more

Be The Match: Young Muncie woman in dire need of blood stem cell transplant
Nov 9, 2009

Focus:Health
Action Request:Donation
Location:United States

MUNCIE -- The clock is ticking.

At age 21, Kelsey Koch is fighting for her life.

Afflicted with Job's Disease, more recently pinpointed as genetic Dock 8 Disease, she is in dire need of a blood stem cell transplant.

"All of my thoughts are on getting a miracle," she said, her young voice filled with determination and hope.

That miracle can only happen if a donor is found.

On Sunday, a Be The Match event will be 10:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Room 102-104 of Union Chapel Ministries, 4622 N. Broadway, to try to find one.

The public is invited to be prospective donors. Requirements are to be age 18 to 60, to fill out a health form, and then take 40 minutes to have the inside of your mouth swabbed in four different places.

"It's very quick and painless," said Tammy Koch, Kelsey's mother, one of the coordinators of the National Marrow Donor Program event. "We hope to have many people come and try. Our need is urgent."

Kelsey is a patient at the National Institutes of Health in Bethseda, Md., where the genetic mutation that causes her rare disease recently was discovered. Only 11 people from eight families have been identified with it, including Kelsey's sister, Karly, 15.

The findings have been reported in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Because Kelsey's condition is so serious, doctors at NIH have immediately started the process for her to have a blood stem cell transplant in hopes of eradicating the mutation.

Time is of essence.

"I've been told the three viruses I have can easily turn into cancer and death," said Kelsey as her hazel-brown eyes revealed her desperation. "It's only a matter of time."

The viruses have caused her to have verrucous warts on her fingers, bumpy and scaly skin on her body that itches and hurts, and varicella zoster, or shingles, on different parts of her body.

Through the years, the rare, genetic primary immune deficiency disease also has caused her to have boils, open wounds on her feet, eczema, insomnia, fatigue, and various infections, including skin, sinus and ear.

I also have had bald spots on my head and lots of bone pain," she said.

And whatever afflictions she has on the outside are ravaging her organs on the inside.

A 2006 homeschool graduate, Kelsey is majoring in psychology at Ball State University.

"I want to get a (college) degree and to live life, but it won't let me," she said in a frustrated tone, noting that she often has to pace herself during the day with naps.

If a donor is found, Kelsey will receive chemotherapy and radiation to eradicate her own immune system before the new stem cells are transplanted at NIH. She then would be confined in Maryland for months, basically in a bubble, after the transplant to monitor her progress and avoid infection.

The donor would take Filgrastim, a growth hormone, to take stem cells out of his or her bone marrow and then into the blood stream. Blood would then be drawn to retrieve the stem cells, which would be frozen and then transported to NIH.

And while the spotlight is on Kelsey because of her urgent need, Tammy and her husband, Tracy, also had some new concerns this week.

On Thursday, Tammy and Karly flew to Bethseda to have doctors check out Karly's symptoms of painful headaches and double vision.

"We want to rule out meningitis," Tammy said. "The doctors there are very special people. They are always a phone call away when we have some immediate needs."

When: 10:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Where: Room 102-104 of Union Chapel Ministries, 4622 N. Broadway.

Requirements: Need to be age 18 to 60, fill out a health form, and then take 40 minutes to have the inside of your mouth swabbed in four different places.

A $25 contribution is requested to cover costs. The goal is $10,000.

More information: Tammy Koch, 286-8991 or Union Chapel Ministries, www.unionchapel.com.

Contribute to the Be The Match effort for Kelsey Koch by using a Pepper Profit Program voucher when you dine at Chili's, 809 W. McGalliard Road, on Sunday. Ten percent of your purchase (excluding taxes) will benefit the cause.

Coupons are available at Union Chapel Ministries, Common Way, Selma United Methodist Church, Compass Church in Northside Middle School, Agape Ministries, Tabor Baptist Church, True Light Baptist Church, and in the offices of Muncie physicians Thomas Rector and Gregory Pyle.

More information: Tammy Koch, 286-8991 or Union Chapel Ministries, www.unionchapel.com.
Visibility: Everyone
Posted: Monday November 9, 2009, 9:00 am
Tags: indiana BSU Kelsey Muncie [add/edit tags]

Group Discussions start a discussion
Comments
Or, log in with your
Facebook account:
Compose your comment and submit:

Author

Kristi K.
Author Tools:
Compose New Share
female , single
Reseda, CA, USA
KRISTI'S SHARES
Oct
6
(0 comments  |  discussions )
Dear Fellow Democrats, We have control of BOTH the Executive and Legislative branches yet nothing is really getting done. It is time for the leaders and members of the Senate and the House to get behind President Obama and bring about all the chang...
Sep
25
(3 comments  |  discussions )
I have been thinking about this issue as I have heard a few complaints about the glitches and bugs here at Care 2. You know, all websites have them (even Facebook). I tried to order stamps yesterday from the USPS  and their websi...
Jul
14
(35 comments  |  discussions )
I want to let everyone know why I have been missing in action. I was taking a morning walk with a friend and a car hit me.  I have a couple of broken bones. Had surgery on 7/11/09 and was released from hospital on 7/13/09. Keep me in your praye...


ads keep care2 free
SHARES FROM KRISTI'S NETWORK
Nov
21
by Road L.
(0 comments  |  discussions )
"Payne Creek Village is like many subdivisions - speed-bump-quietened roads with names such as Quail Run, Fawn Lane and Mallard Drive. A brick entrance monument greets visitors adjacent to the management office. By the numbers Cost Comparis...
by Road L.
(0 comments  |  discussions )
"As the residential market continues to grapple with the current recession, the manufactured housing market seems to be going through a cycle all its own – a cycle that experts say is outperforming its site built home sibling....." Source an...
by mark s.
(0 comments  |  discussions )
AFP - Space shuttle Atlantis astronauts aboard the International Space Station delayed their second spacewalk Saturday after being jolted awake by a false alarm, NASA said.
by Team O.
(0 comments  |  discussions )
http://tinyurl.com/yk9ty2 ehttp://freepage.twoday.n et/search?q=GlaxoSmithKli nehttp://freepage.twoday. net/search?q=Pandemrixhtt p://freepage.twoday.net/s earch?q=swine+fluhttp://f reepage.twoday.net/search ?q=H1N1http://freepage.tw oday.net/search?q=vaccin ...
by Team O.
(0 comments  |  discussions )
Berlin. Ähnlich wie im brandenburgischen Königs-Wuste rhausen, wo vor etwa 9 Jahren das damalige Arbeitsamt die ersten erwerbslosen "Fahrrad-Bewacher" an S-Bahnhöfe versandte, sollen nun auch in Berlin-Spandau Har...


ads keep care2 free
MORE ALERT
Nov 21
Alert: DrAlanK by Alan K.
(0 comments  |  discussions ) — more
Alert: US Army Sends Infant to Protective Services, Mom to Afghanistan by BMutiny T.
(0 comments  |  discussions ) — U.S.: Army Sends Infant to Protective Services, Mom to Afghanistan US Politics & Gov't  (tags: ) AniTa  - ipsnews.net U.S. Army Specialist Alexis Hutchinson, a single mother, is being threatened with a military court-martial if sh... more
Nov 20
Alert: ARTICLE: THE TAMIFLU MYTH by Deborah R.
(0 comments  |  discussions ) — VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO FORWARD MESSAGE WIDELY: BroJon News: Monday December 5, 2005 THE TAMIFLU MYTH What Big Pharma and the CDC Forgot to Tell the Doctors (Also Known as "The Letter to Doreen") Tamiflu was developed several years ago after l... more
Alert: ARTICLE: MURDER IN THE MEDICINE CABINET by Deborah R.
(0 comments  |  discussions ) — VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO FORWARD THIS MESSAGE WIDELY:BroJon News: Wednesday, February 2, 2005 MURDER IN THE MEDICINE CABINET PART ONE The Deadliest Killer of the 20th Century, With More Deaths Than All the World Wars, Lurks Right Inside Your House, an... more
Alert: Youth Noise by Anna L.
(0 comments  |  0 discussions ) — Youth Noise helps a different charity each month by using the click-to-donate method. This month's focus is the House of Mercy Children's Home in Kenya. Please click everyday to help them reach their goal of 100,000 clicks, which will raise $500 to he... more
 
Content and comments expressed here are the opinions of Care2 users and not necessarily that of Care2.com or its affiliates.
Copyright © 2009 Care2.com, inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved