Atlanta Family Fights Rare Blood Disorder

Dylan Martin’s family is no stranger to the rare blood disorder, MDS – Myelodysplastic Syndrome (what used to be known as preleukemia) – his grandmother, mother, and brother all have been diagnosed with it.

“I think we are the only possible family with four people,” Dylan’s mother, Leigh Ann, told 11Alive News.

MDS is a disorder where a person’s bone marrow doesn’t function properly and produces an insufficient number of blood cells.  Patients with MDS can develop anemia and require blood transfusions.  If the disease worsens the patient can develop low blood count caused by progressive bone marrow failure and a bone marrow transplant is necessary.

The 22 year old college student spent the Thanksgiving holiday weekend at Emory Hospital after receiving one such life-saving transplant.

“I’ll get kind of teary, but very thankful for that,” said Leigh Ann when speaking about the transplant.  Leigh Ann Martin herself received a bone marrow transplant when her MDS progressed into leukemia.

“Certainly, its put a damper on things – I have to be honest and say that but you know thank goodness – I have to be so, thankful,” said Leigh Ann. “I keep thinking one day, my older son will need a bone marrow transplant and there may be somebody out there who would be a perfect match for him.”

To donate to “Be the Match” in honor of the Martin family click here.

Video credit: 11Alive News