A Mobile family is marking a hard-won milestone after a 6-year-old girl received a bone marrow transplant this month at Children’s of Alabama Hospital in Birmingham, with her own mother stepping in as the donor.
Tamiere Marks said her daughter, Kash, has lived with sickle cell anemia since birth and began facing serious complications by the time she was just four months old. In the years since, the family has cycled through countless hospital stays as they worked to keep the disease under control.
“She’s had acute chest syndrome, she’s had pneumonia, liver enlargement, different things of that nature, fever after fever — but guess what, she’s still going to get up and get her Play-Doh, she’s still going to get her Barbie doll, she’s still going to play with her mermaid,” Marks said.
What Is Sickle Cell Anemia?
Sickle cell anemia is an inherited blood disorder that changes the shape of red blood cells from smooth, round discs into a rigid, curved “sickle” shape. Those misshapen cells can block blood flow and oxygen delivery throughout the body, leading to painful episodes, infections, organ strain and other complications. It disproportionately affects Black families and, in more severe cases, can mean years of emergency room visits and hospitalizations, much like what Kash and her family have experienced.
A Costly, Years-Long Fight
Marks said the toll of repeated hospitalizations went beyond the physical challenges facing Kash — it also cost Marks her job after she gave birth to her youngest daughter, Riley.
“My job basically told me I had to choose between them and this process — of course I chose this process,” Marks said. “They said because I went on maternity leave back in October it took away from my FMLA.”
Finding a Match, and a Path Forward
According to Marks, doctors had known for years that Kash would eventually need a bone marrow transplant. In a bone marrow transplant, healthy blood-forming cells from a donor are used to replace a patient’s own marrow, giving the body a new source of red blood cells that don’t carry the sickle cell trait. Late last year, physicians at Children’s of Alabama told the family they were ready to move forward using a parent as the donor. Marks was found to be a match and donated to her daughter earlier this month.
“Doctors are very impressed with her. They tell me every time they come into the room, ‘Mama, don’t worry, nothing has changed, Kash is doing good,'” Marks said. “They just say they know it’s frustrating waiting, but I don’t find it frustrating — I’m glad she’s doing good.”
Marks said she bounced back from the donation procedure quickly, returning to her daughter’s bedside within days.
“Kash made me strong because at first when it started I was crying and going on, but then I was like, if she can go through this I can get through it. I’m her mom,” Marks said.
A Second Diagnosis in the Family
Kash isn’t the only one of Marks’ children affected by the disease. Her 9-month-old daughter, Riley, has also been diagnosed with sickle cell anemia. When Riley is old enough, she is expected to receive a bone marrow donation of her own — from her 5-year-old brother, Junior.
Looking Ahead
Marks said Kash is expected to be released from the hospital soon, though the family will stay in the Birmingham area until her blood levels stabilize. They expect to learn in September whether the transplant has fully succeeded.
“That’s why I know it’s going to be successful — I don’t believe nothing else; I don’t have room to believe nothing else. I’m just leaning on God and thanking him in advance for allowing my baby to be healed,” Marks said.