Bone Marrow Match is Found for Kyle Dean Smith

The family and friends of Kyle Dean Smith would like to announce good news regarding Smith who was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Monocytic Luekemia on January 10, 2009. They were informed by the staff at the University of Kentucky's Children's Hospital that several complete matches were found for Smith so that he can have the bone marrow transplant that could save his life.

Complete matches mean that everything that needs to match does: blood type, human luekocyte antigens, etc. These are the closest matches possible- ever!

It is also a positive that more than one such match has been found. This is because donors have the option of backing out at any time during the process and if one does there is another to step in. This is important because Smith will be prepped for the procedure by receiving chemo drugs that will kill his bone marrow completely- it will never produce again. At this point, the 10 year old will be as close to death as is possible for a human to still be alive. The donor must be ready to donate the bone marrow at this time- when Smith is ready for it- or he could die. Multiple complete matches make this more possible in the event that one of them should change their mind. Also, multiple complete matches are beneficial in the event that Smith's body should reject the transplant. In that case, he may be able to receive another- if he is strong enough.

The process is simple and does not require surgery. The donor is given the option of receiving general or topical anesthesia and the bone marrow is retrieved in a process similar to a lumbar puncture wherein a needle is inserted into the donor pelvic area and the marrow is taken out via that needle. The donor will experience some soreness as one does following a lumbar puncture and will have to avoid sickness for two weeks following. When that two weeks has elapsed, the donor's bone marrow will have renewed itself. The bone marrow is then hand-carried to Cincinnati's Children's Hospital. There is a stem cell research facility on the property and there the bone marrow will be separated from any blood, etc. and placed in a bag of saline solution. Then it will be infused into Smith much like receiving fluids through an IV. His immune system will be suppressed to minimise rejection and he will be in isolation for at least 100 days. It will be two years before danger of rejection is passed and his immune system is strong enough to allow him to return to public school.

The family and friends of Kyle Dean Smith call it the "kill or cure shot", but without it Smith would certainly die. Therefore, this news comes as a great relief to them and offers them greater hope.

The family and friends of Kyle Dean Smith conducted a total of 18 bone marrow registry drives in the span of a month and a half with over 600 people stepping up to be tested. These drives were held from Elkhorn City, KY to as far away as Lexington, KY. and all in hopes of hearing just this news.

In view of this, the family and friends of Kyle Dean Smith would like to thank Councilman Mike Taylor first and foremost for helping them to organise the drives and benefits and other events to benefit Smith. They would also like to thank the following individuals for outstanding monetary contributions:
Gypsy Cantrell
Larry Cantrell
Charles Cantrell
Roger Elswick of Elswick Construction
Robbie Lester of Elkhorn Drug

Also, they very much appreciate the community support manifested by and through Mr. James Mercer, Lisa Owens, Heather Richards, the Girl Scout Troupe in Elkhorn City, Bob's Sporting Goods of Elkhorn City who worked overtime printing "Fighting for Kyle" t-shirts for the community to wear, Community Trust Bank- Elkhorn City Branch, The Elkhorn City Elementary School, Appalachian News Express, the Medical Leader, WYMT TV, the various radio stations that helped to advertise events, the Pike County Jailhouse, Mountain View Nursing Home, Phelps High School, Pikeville Medical Center, Paul B. Hall Hospital, Pikeville College, the University of Kentucky, the Society of Women Engineers, all the local churches who gave monetary donations and etc., the baseball team who had "Fighting for Kyle" emblazoned on this year's uniforms, Barbara Nolan at the Cleveland Clinic who exhibited extraordinary kindness in supplying tests and the like, and many others.

Special thanks to these individuals who helped with 18 drives:
Sharon Bartley
Marie Feldpusch
Gary Feldpusch
Terri Elswick
Betty Jo Toney
Melissa Damron
Sue Barrowman
Nikki Meade
Mike Taylor
Deidre Taylor
Shana Taylor
Haylea Taylor
Amy Shortridge
Tonya Bartley
Quimby Prater
Kevin Wolford
Mary Lou Hawkins
Tina Thompson
Lori Elswick
John Coleman
Dwayne Tackett
Marica Casey
Danielle Casey
Amy McDougal

Not to be left out are the dear individuals who donated hair or shaved their heads in a show of support for Smith: Dalton Swindell, 2nd grade
John Wesley Justice, 6th grade
Cody Adams, 5th grade
Austin Staley, 3rd grade
John Casey, 8th grade
Lexi Bell, 8th grade

The family and friends of Kyle Smith also offer sincere thanks to every business who set out "Pennies for Kyle" jars and every single person who has offered well-wishes and prayers, and anyone who may have inadvertently been left out of this long list. Your support means everything. Please, continue to support this boy as he enters the most critical stage of his treatment.