Chinese doctor donates bone marrow to US girl

A doctor from eastern China donated his bone marrow today in the hope of helping an eight-year-old American girl with a potentially deadly blood disease.

Wang Lin, a doctor from Zhejiang province, underwent a procedure to have some of his bone marrow removed at Beijing’s Dongpei Hospital to help treat Kailee Wells, a Chinese-born American citizen suffering from aplastic anaemia.

Wells’ family has been searching for a donor since Kailee fell ill three years ago.

Wang donated blood in May and was told in August that a survey of 30,000 donors revealed he was a perfect match for Kailee, according to Dongpei Hospital.

Wang “didn’t hesitate” to offer his bone marrow and even delayed a trip to visit his pregnant wife so he could undergo a required physical exam.

Wang’s marrow was to be sent by courier to the United States today by a representative from the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where Kailee is being treated.

Linda and Owen Wells adopted Kailee from China after her mother left her at an orphanage in southern Hunan province.

Kailee’s illness wasn’t discovered until she developed a 105-degree fever the night of her fifth birthday when the family lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Aplastic anaemia remains uncommon – about 1,000 new cases are discovered each year in the United States. While many are cured, Kailee has a severe form of the disease and needs a bone marrow transplant. Her inability to produce healthy blood has left her unable to fight infections.

The Wells family was preparing for the arrival of the bone marrow and expected Kailee to undergo the transplant procedure on November 7, said Linda Wells.

Before the procedure, Kailee will undergo a battery of tests, radiation and chemotherapy. Kailee will remain in the hospital four to six weeks following the five-hour procedure.

“We look forward to the day when we can bring Kailee to China to meet the people who worked so hard on her behalf, and those many others who have sent many, many well wishes her way,” Linda said.

In January, Kailee went through a bone marrow transplant that failed.