>Haley Tyrell is a 5th grade student at Travell School. She has been diagnosed with bone cancer and is currently receiving chemotherapy at Sloan- Kettering in NYC. She is in need of blood and platelets.
Haley’s Story
It started with some pain in my groin during the last week of August. Everyone thought I pulled a muscle, but when the pain didn’t get better my mom called the pediatrician. They sent me to Valley Hospital for a couple of x-rays. The x-rays came back good but they told me to take it easy because I probably pulled a muscle in my groin and to follow up with my orthopedic. This was on Aug. 31st. It was a bummer because on the last day of summer I couldn’t play with my friends. I started 5th grade on Sept. 2nd and that afternoon I went to the orthopedic who checked my leg, confirmed that the x-ray looked good and told me if I wasn’t feeling 100% better in 2 weeks to come back. So, over Labor Day weekend my family and I were at my grandparents lake house in Inlet, NY (Adirondacks). On Saturday Sept. 5th I tripped and fell . My leg was in excruciating pain and I was unable to move. I was taken by ambulance to a hospital 85 miles away in Utica, NY. Every bump we hit along the way made me want to scream. X-rays were taken and showed that I broke my femur bone. I was then transferred by ambulance (4 1/2 hours) to West Chester Medical Center because I needed better care. When I got there on Sunday morning they immediately put my leg in traction. The next day I had a CAT scan and then off to surgery to have a plate put in my leg to fix my broken femur. During the operation they found a tumor in my bone and sent it out for a biopsy. In the meantime I was having other tests done(blood work, bone scans, MRI’s, etc.) On the evening of Sept. 9th the doctors told my parents that the results of my biopsy weren’t good. So, on Thursday, Sept. 10th I took another ambulance ride to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center whereI had many more tests done. After the tests were completed Dr. Meyers and his team explained to us that I had a form of bone cancer called Osteosarcoma. The good news was that the other tests showed that the cancer was localized in my femur and had not spread to any other parts of my body. I start my treatment on Tuesday, Sept. 15th.
Love,
Haley
HALEY TYRELL Needs Blood & Platelets
Haley is currently a patient at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. Her treatment for Osteosarcoma requires regular blood and platelet transfusions.
Haley and her family would deeply appreciate your donation of blood and/or platelets and hopes you will ask others you know to donate. Donations not used by Haley will be released for use by other patients many of whom are children.
Designated donations for Haley Tyrell must be made in the Blood Donor Room of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Please visit www.mskcc.org/blooddonations for complete information about donor eligibility and the donation process for blood or platelets.
For answers to questions and to schedule an appointment that is convenient for you please CALL:
Joe Licata @ 212-639-8177
Manager, Blood Donor Program
licataj@mskcc.org
or
The Blood Donor Room – 212-639-7648
Appointments are necessary- All blood types are acceptable
