The more people donate blood, the better chance 6-year-old Joseph Newport has of living as long and full a life as possible.
The Sapulpa boy has thalassemia, a blood disorder somewhat similar to sickle cell disease that requires him to get transfusions of red blood cells every three weeks. He has already been exposed to so many different types of blood that he has started developing strong allergic reactions when he gets a transfusion.
The Oklahoma Blood Institute is trying to develop a donor pool of people whose blood closely matches his own so he doesn't have the bad reactions, which include hives. Doctors have also started monitoring his breathing during the episodes.
"We're trying to keep them (the transfusions) as uncomplicated as possible because he's going to be doing this for the rest of his life," said Heather vonHartitzsch, clinical lab and transfusion service manager at Oklahoma Blood Institute.
OBI is holding a blood drive for Joseph on Tuesday at Sapulpa High School.
Jennifer Newport adopted Joseph about two years ago from China. At the same time she adopted a baby girl, Jewel. They join Newport's other two boys, Eric, 13, and Dalton, 15.
Joseph has been getting transfusions since he was 9 months old, but in China he received whole blood, which has increased his chances of allergic reaction now. He also wasn't taking medication to keep his iron from building up, which has led to high levels that can be dangerous.
Now he takes a pill and eats a special diet to control his iron.
"Having access to this one pill is going to have a decade's difference in his life-span," Newport said.
The transfusions at the Children's Hospital at Saint Francis take about six to seven hours.
As he gets older and bigger, he'll have to go more often and get more red blood cells.
Another medicine to help control his iron will have to be administered at home for 12 hours five days a week.
Joseph often thanks people he sees giving blood, but he doesn't understand the effort required to get people to donate, Newport said.
"It never occurs to him that we have to reach out and try to get people to do that," she said.
The family donates blood as often as possible and Dalton has already said he plans to give as soon as he turns 16.
OBI spokeswoman Sara Wilson said Joseph's case is a reminder that blood donors are always needed.
"People, I think they react to the traumas, the accidents, the explosions and they want to immediately do the right thing, and we would like for people to make it a priority all year to donate," she said.
Those who can't make it to the blood drive Tuesday can still donate in Joseph's name. Even if their blood does not match his, it helps pay for the blood he does receive, Wilson said.
Blood drive to benefit Joseph Newport
- 2 to 6 p.m. Tuesday
- Band hall, Sapulpa High School, 3 South Mission St.
Shannon Muchmore 918-581-8378
shannon.muchmore@tulsaworld.com
Local
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