Here's a video on treatment received by Allan - Allan Sparrow A Stem Cell Success

 

 

Allen Sparrow-16 yrs oldAllen Sparrow

Local boy who is in need of help!!


He is in need of a Stem Cell Transplant, the only problem is he and his mother will have to live in Chicago for 3 months while receiving this very intensive treatment at the Northwestern Medical Hospital.  He is UNABLE to receive this treatment in any area hospital as his illness Systemic Scleroderma is very rare.   Routine doctor visits are done usually out of the area and get very costly as well.  Funding alone will be over $16,000 dollars.

 

Allen was diagnosed with Diffuse Systemic Scleroderma a couple of days before he turned 13. Systemic Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease that in Allen’s case has attacked his entire body.  It tightens up your skin and has affected his internal organs as well.  He has lung involvement and esophagus issues.  This illness can be fatal if it attacks the kidneys and the heart.  He has have had to seek Medical attention elsewhere. This recommendation by Allen’s doctors at Strong Memorial is because this illness is so rare especially in children; they don’t know the best treatment for him.  We have doctors in Washington DC, Albany NY and now in Chicago Illinois.  Allen also suffers from Reynaud’s and Mixed Connective Tissue Disease.

 

Before the onset of this illness Allen lived a normal childhood life.  He played basketball, wrestled, and did all the fun things a typical boy would and could do.  As his illness began, there was more and more he found himself not being able to do on a daily basis.  The Scleroderma set in so quickly he had no time to prepare for this to happen.  Even if he could prepare, how easy is it to give up everything you like to do?  He can no longer ride a bike, play basketball, wrestle,  run, ride rides at the amusement park, bowl, and just has a hard time with all his daily living functions.  Not many people know this, but Allen has been living with a broken arm for 2 years now.  He lives every day to the fullest of his ability.  Allen goes to school daily despite all his appointments and how much medication he takes.  He takes 22 pills a day.  He takes Culinary at the Foreman Center and lives for that!  He was told that he should look for a new career as he wouldn’t make it in the Chef business because of the deformity in his hands caused by the  Reynaud’s and the Scleroderma. He is out to prove them wrong.  He has hopes and dreams of his own.  Allen has received several awards in Culinary for excellence and he is very proud, as I am of him!!!

 

Allen has a hard time doing what we all take for granted every day.  Getting dressed, getting on the bus, in and out of a car is a great deal for him which he needs assistance in doing.  No medications or therapies seem to have helped thus far.  Allen has been going to PT for the last 3 years, has been on Methotrexate injections and received Cytoxan Chemotherapy as well for several months for his lungs.  It has come to 3 specialists telling us that Allen is a great candidate for a stem cell transplant.  However, they wouldn’t do the stem cell transplant in New York State. Different factors made going to Chicago the closest and BEST place for Allen to be.   They DO NOT use any type of radiation.  It’s a long process and very expensive BUT is Allen’s one true hope for an extended life and not losing out on the rest of what life has to offer for him.

 

ANY and all donations are GREATLY appreciated!!

 

THANK YOU

 

To find out more about Allen Sparrow's current status and to donate online click here.

 

Please send donations to:

 

Allen Sparrow Fundraiser
C/o Tina Lowry
216 1/2 Magnolia Ave.
East Rochester, NY 14445

 

Please help Allen receive what we all take for granted