In case you didn't know, bone marrow is the soft spongy material inside your bones that is home to stem cells. Stem Cells are the little factories that produce the three types of blood cells, that along with a liquid called plasma, makes up your blood. In people with Aplastic Anemia, the stem cells are damaged and unable to produce enough blood cells to keep the patient alive. There are three main types of blood cells. Red blood cells are responsible for carrying oxygen to organs and tissues throughout the body.
Platelets are yellow, disc shaped cells that help the blood to clot.
People with Aplastic Anemia are always at risk for serious infections because they don't have enough white cells to fight them. They are also prone to fatigue from a low red cell count, and life-threatening episodes of bleeding because their stem cells don't make enough platelets. Many Aplastic Anemia patients are dependent upon transfusions of donor blood and platelets to keep them alive. Katelyn was kept alive by generous blood and platelet donors from all over Central Illinois. We are very grateful to these kind and giving people.