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Brooke's Family Fighting To Save Her

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By D'ANN LAWRENCE WHITE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 8, 2007

VALRICO - The date is forever engrained on that imaginary calendar in Phyllis Longwell's head: Sept. 19, 2006.

"That's the day my daughter's world was turned upside down," Longwell said.

That also was the day Longwell and her husband, Jim, longtime Valrico residents, began the fight to save their daughter, Brooke Longwell Brantley, a single mother of three who at age 32 had just been diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia.

A 1992 Bloomingdale High School graduate, Brantley, 33, had been living with her children - Savannah, now 12, Jarrett, 9, and Nathan, 7 - in Palatka and planning a move back to Valrico following her divorce. About that time, she became lethargic, and her doctors suspected she had a blood clot in her leg.

Because Brantley was born with a chromosome abnormality and immune deficiency and had a clotting problem, her mother decided to take no chances. She drove to Palatka to pick up her daughter and took her to Tampa General Hospital.

There, doctors discovered Brantley had the fast-growing cancer of the blood and bone marrow.

"We were told that it was very aggressive and treatment needed to be started immediately," Longwell said. "We just were not prepared for how immediate that meant - not time for planning or second thoughts - just enough time for praying and praying and praying."

Doctors began chemotherapy in the hopes of killing off the abnormal leukemia red cells and platelets and allowing the bone marrow to produce healthy red and white blood cells and platelets.

However, the body can take only so much chemotherapy, and Brantley is finishing her third round at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute in Tampa. Her doctors say her best hope is a bone marrow transplant.

"She is at a critical point in her care," her mother said. "A bone marrow transplant could save her life, even though she is considered a high-risk candidate because she has what is termed common variable immune deficiency, or CVID, and because Brooke is weak from the ravages of her treatment and consequent medical complications.

"But we are not willing to give up. We have seen many miracles during this past year, and we believe God is not finished with Brooke yet."

Brantley's brother, Jim Longwell, 30, was the first to volunteer to donate his bone marrow. He wasn't a match. No one in the family is.

Brantley is on the National Marrow Donor Program's list, but so far, a worldwide search has yielded no match. So the Longwells are counting on their community.

In cooperation with Florida Blood Services and Cracker Barrel restaurant, the Longwells will hold a bone marrow drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at Cracker Barrel, 1880 E. State Road 60, Valrico.

"Our goal, of course, is to find a match for Brooke. However, there are many other people struck by this horrible disease that also need donors - donors of all ethnicities," Phyllis Longwell said. "We are seeking volunteers who will agree to go on the donor list, even if they aren't a match for Brooke. They may be a match for someone else, and they must be willing to follow through on their commitment, to give the gift of life."

Getting tested is as easy as saying "ahhh."

"They simply take a mouth swab," Longwell said. "They're looking for people age 18 to 60 in good health, with no blood or immune-deficiency disorders."

For criteria, visit the National Marrow Donor Program Web site at www.marrow.org.

The tests cost $52 per person. The Longwells have received enough donations to test the first 90 people and are seeking donations to test others. Donations are tax-deductible, and checks can be made out to Florida Blood Services with Brantley Marrow Drive written on the memo line.

"People tell me not to get my hopes up, but my hopes are exceptionally high right now," Longwell said. "I'm hoping for a couple of hundred to register on Saturday. It's not difficult. I'm just hoping people's hearts are touched."

In the meantime, Longwell, said she and her family pray.

"It's been a challenge emotionally, physically and financially, but I'm being as positive as I can be," Longwell said. "My daughter gets her strength from God and her three children. They are her entire world."

Brantley and her children also are registered with the Greater Brandon Community Foundation Angel Program, in which volunteers offer time, goods and services to Brandon area families facing medical crises or catastrophes.

To register to become a foundation volunteer, visit www.brandonfoundation.org or call foundation Executive Director Liz Brewer at (813) 661-8683.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Bone marrow drive for Brooke Longwell Brantley

WHEN:10 a.m.-2 p.m. today

WHERE: Cracker Barrel, 1880 E. State Road 60, Valrico

Reporter D'Ann Lawrence White can be reached at (813) 657-4524 or dlwhite@tampatrib.com.

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