Two-year-old Conon Kennedy battles Crohn’s disease.
Severe case of Crohn’s disease could be fatal
THE 2-YEAR-OLD son of Local 83 (Kansas City, Mo.) member Kris Kennedy is struggling with a severe case of Crohn's disease that threatens his life. The only hope for little Conon (nicknamed “Con Man” by Kris and his wife, Melaina) is a stem cell transplant, but thus far, no exact match has been found.
Many people suffering from blood cancer and other diseases must depend on volunteers who sign up with a national registry and then stand ready to donate their own stem cells or bone marrow in order to save a life. A simple swab test is all that’s required to get on the list.
L-83 BM-ST Scot Albertson hopes Boilermakers who meet the age and medical requirements will consider volunteering.
“With the numbers that can be reached in our membership, at some point somebody will be a match for someone out there. Hopefully, a family in the future won’t have to go through the pain of waiting and praying a donor can be found.”
For more information about joining the registry, speak with your doctor or contact a medical facility in your area. Additional resources can be found online, for example, www.BeTheMatch.org.
