TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Family Event To Help Ailing Girl

ADVERTISEMENT

By D'ANN LAWRENCE WHITE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 17, 2008

DOVER - He sounds more like a doctor than the owner of a lawn maintenance company as he recounts the past five months of his daughter's life.

Mulberry resident Randy McLemore can speak knowledgeably about the medical basis for 14-year-old Ashley's sudden liver failure leading to her transplant April 24 at Shands Children's Hospital in Gainesville.

And he can explain in technical terms the theory behind why his daughter developed potentially fatal aplastic anemia following the liver transplant.

It's when McLemore recalls the frantic hours at Shands waiting for a liver donor that he reverts to being the distraught dad, overcome with emotion.

"The doctors said they'd never seen anyone that bad," McLemore said. "They had the crash cart ready and they prepared us for the worst. But she's still with us. She's a miracle."

Until April, Ashley McLemore had been a typical 13-year-old with no unusual health concerns, said her stepmother, Bonnie McLemore.

"Then, around the first of April, she suddenly became jaundiced," she said.

The once-vibrant teen was diagnosed with total liver failure. Although an autopsy was performed on Ashley's failed liver, doctors were unable to determine the cause. They say it could be linked to a virus or autoimmune disease.

"She was sent to Shands April 21, where doctors said we'd lose her if they didn't do something fast," Bonnie McLemore said. "They put her on the transplant list. It was horrible. Her entire body was shutting down. She could no longer see us. But God must have been watching over her."

She said she will never forget April 23. It was her birthday, and she was returning to Mulberry to spend time with her three other stepchildren when she received a call from her husband telling her they had found a match.

"By 11 a.m. April 24, the old liver was out and the new one was in. By 3:30, Ashley was laughing and talking. And by the next day she was eating a cheeseburger and French fries," Bonnie McLemore said.

Ashley came home from the hospital May 5, and on May 24, she celebrated her 14th birthday. She planned to spend the summer recuperating before starting her first year in high school, but a couple of weeks after her birthday she became critically ill.

Although her new liver was functioning fine, Ashley's bone marrow had stopped making healthy stem cells, reducing the number of platelets, red and white blood cells, a disease known as aplastic anemia.

Ashley had developed a severe form of the disease, requiring her to travel to Shands each week to receive transfusions. She also must remain isolated from anyone other than family members to remain germ-free.

"It's a type of donor-versus-host disease," Randy McLemore said. "Some of the antibodies from the donated organ survived and entered her bloodstream, where they are struggling for supremacy."

Ashley is among four teens who developed the disease after liver transplants and who are now under study by researchers at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. They hope to determine the cause so they can prevent future occurrences. At Shands, she's monitored by a hematology group and an infectious disease team.

"The people at Shands are fantastic," said Randy McLemore. "I can't say enough about them."

Bonnie McLemore is equally grateful to the community. She works as a hairstylist at First Choice Haircutters on Bloomingdale Avenue in Brandon. Ashley's diagnosis hit home for longtime customer Donna Perkins. Her daughter, Mandy, who will turn 17 in October, was diagnosed with aplastic anemia when she was 5.

"They don't know what caused it in my daughter," Perkins said. "She began bruising easily and they discovered her platelet count was low. She had to wear a helmet for over a year because they were afraid of hematomas a collection of blood if she hit her head."

The Brandon High School student is in remission but must have annual blood tests to make sure she's producing enough platelets.

When Perkins heard about Ashley, she decided it would be a good opportunity to raise awareness about aplastic anemia and help a struggling family. She began planning a fundraiser and blood drive to benefit Ashley.

The event will take place from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Cross Creek Ranch, 12950 E. Wheeler Road, Dover, and will include a car wash coordinated by Mandy Perkins, as well as a yard sale, bake sale, silent auction and appearances by professional wrestlers from World Wrestling Entertainment who also have signed items for the silent auction.

In addition, BloodNet USA will be on hand from 8 a.m. to noon to take blood and platelet donations and bone marrow screenings. Marrow screenings normally cost $52 but will be free to anyone who donates blood.

Cross Creek Ranch owners Bonnie and Sean McSherry donated the grounds for the event. Moon Walks of Seffner has offered a moon walk, and Nancy Cruz is donating her time as a clown to entertain children.

"We have some wonderful silent auction and drawing items that have been donated, including a week at a condo on Flagler Beach from Millie Niquiest, a massage from Magdovitz Chiropractic Clinic of Brandon, a $150 gift certificate from Topper King and a $30 gift certificate from Buffalo Wild Wings."

Bonnie McLemore said the support is appreciated. Her husband has been forced to put his business on the back burner to travel back and forth to Gainesville with Ashley each week, a 304-mile round trip.

"The van keeps breaking down, and we'd love if God would bless someone's heart to donate a vehicle," she said.

"This is quite overwhelming," agreed Randy McLemore. "It's been quite a ride."

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Fundraiser for the family of Ashley McLemore, who is battling aplastic anemia
WHEN: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Cross Creek Ranch, 12950 E. Wheeler Road, Dover

COST: Admission is free

CONTACT: Anyone who would like to donate items for the fundraiser or would like information can call Donna Perkins at (813) 532-2779.

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

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT