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Envirocon Mechanic Donates Bone Marrow
Thousands of patients with leukemia and other life-threatening diseases depend on a bone marrow transplant to save their life. These patients need donors who are a genetic match; however, even with millions of donors registered, many patients simply cannot find that match.
About 8 years ago Tyler Madden, Envirocon’s Lead Mechanic at the Atlas Tailings Project in Moab, UT, registered with a bone marrow registry program. He didn’t think much of it at the time as the chances of being matched with someone in need were very low.
Tyler and girlfriend Sydney
(who is also on the donor list)
This winter, Tyler was indentified as a possible match for an 8-year old boy with fanconi anemia. This rare inherited blood disease causes bone marrow failure, leukemia, and eventually death. This boy’s disease had progressed to the point that without a bone marrow transplant, he was not expected to live 6 months. Tyler went through an initial screening including extensive blood work and a complete physical. Additional testing confirmed that he was a match for the boy. Although understandably anxious prior to the procedure, Tyler agreed without hesitation to do what he could to help the boy.
In March of 2010, the lives of an 8-year old boy and of Tyler changed forever. Tyler underwent a bone marrow extraction procedure, performed under general anesthesia that required the removal of more than a quart of marrow from both hips. Not for the faint of heart, this procedure is physically taxing and requires an extensive recovery period. But throughout the process, his focus was centered on this boy, his parents, and the devastating situation they were in.
Tyler’s act of selflessness shows what those who have worked with over the past 5 years already know about him; he is a committed and caring individual. Tyler believes this story is about the boy, but without Tyler, this boy’s story would end very differently. The reason he agreed to share it is simple…if others are moved to register with a bone marrow transplant registry program, people’s lives can be saved.
The boy has responded very well to the transplant and his prognosis is very promising. Tyler hopes to meet the boy one day and lives every day with the knowledge that he helped someone have another chance at life.
Here is a letter from the boy’s mother that is a testament to the impact that being a donor can have:
To become a donor or to learn more about bone marrow transplants go to the Be the Match, National Marrow Donor Program website, www.marrow.org.
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