Family hoping for second miracle

FORT FRANCES—Carolyn Stamarski was blessed with one miracle in her life. Now she’s hoping for another.
The 51-year-old Fort Frances woman underwent a liver transplant just over two years ago after a virus in her blood created a clot that caused her own to fail.
She lapsed into a coma and later, when her condition worsened, was rushed to University Hospital in London, Ont. where—miraculously—a match was found that same day.
Within weeks of the surgery, which took 11 hours, Stamarski began rehab and regained her speech and the use of her limbs.
But sadly, that same virus—known as polycythemia—now is attacking Stamarski’s bone marrow and has caused leukemia.
“The virus that made her sick to begin with two years ago has mutated into acute myeloid leukemia,” her sister, Ellie Grant, explained. “There was always the chance it might mutate into leukemia.”
Now, Stamarski needs a bone marrow transplant. And doctors have said she will survive only another six months without one.
None of her family members have been found to match. In a cruel irony, Stamarski’s two sisters match each other, but not her.
According to Canadian Blood Services, this is not unusual. Less than 30 percent of patients find a compatible family member for bone marrow transplant.
“She needs a really high match,” said Grant. “Because of her liver transplant, they’re worried that her liver will reject if it isn’t a high enough match.”
What doctors are looking for is not a blood type match, but rather a match for the body’s six Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA).
In most cases, an 80 percent match would be sufficient. In Stamarski’s case, however, the match has to be in the high 90s, her sister explained.
Despite the odds, Grant said her sister remains in good spirits.
“Her big concern is that her husband, Rick, doesn’t get upset. She’s staying so positive,” she said of her sister. “I’ve been amazed at her positive attitude. . . . She’s just happy to still be alive.
“There’s no sense being upset,” Grant added. “It could end any time, so there’s no sense worrying about that.”
Fortunately, the leukemia was diagnosed early.
“The Health Sciences Centre [in Winnipeg] has been keeping her on a really short leash,” Grant said. “Because of the liver and because of the virus, they’ve been watching her very close.
“It pays off when they catch something that quickly.”
Stamarski’s doctors had noticed a change in her blood last March. She immediately was put on a constant 24-hour drip of chemotherapy for one week.
“They forced her into remission for a little bit,” Grant said.
But at the beginning of November, Stamarski’s blood changed again and doctors diagnosed her with leukemia.
“She went immediately on the emergency bone marrow transplant list,” Grant remarked.
As a result, every time a new person signs on to the Bone Marrow Donor Registry, their data immediately is compared to Stamarski’s.
The family, which also includes sons Chris and Andrew, has had some good news: two new potential donors recently submitted blood samples.
“We’ll know by the end of the week if one of those match,” Grant said.
In the meantime, anyone locally interested in being tested to see if they’re a potential match for Stamarski should go to www.bloodservices.ca and sign up for the Bone Marrow Donor Registry.
There, people can fill out an online form to determine if they’re an appropriate donor candidate. From there, Canadian Blood Services contacts the person to set up date to take a blood sample.
The potential donor’s information then is kept in a database for comparison whenever bone marrow is needed.
Grant noted it’s not an option to test only for Stamarski—you have to submit your name for the registry. But the potential donor always retains the right to refuse if a match is found.
Donors must be between the ages of 17 and 50.
The procedure of harvesting bone marrow from the donor is not unlike some of the testing Stamarski herself has undergone.
“They take the bone marrow from the back of the pelvic bone,” Grant explained, noting doctors harvest three-five percent of the donor’s bone marrow, which his or her body replaces within six weeks.
During that time, the donor is slightly more susceptible to colds and other illnesses.
The donor generally is put under general anesthesia, and can have some mild pain where the marrow was harvested.
“It’s a little uncomfortable for the donor,” Grant conceded. “[But] what’s a little pain when you can save somebody’s life?”
For Stamarski, in the days before the transplant, she would undergo aggressive chemotherapy to kill off any remaining unhealthy marrow in her body.
The new, healthy marrow then likely would be infused through a central line.
Incredibly, with just that three-five percent of a person’s marrow, she would be able to regrow all of her own.
“It’s like planting a seed in the ground,” Grant remarked.
Frustratingly, the source of the polycythemia is unknown.
“They’re not sure where it came from. There is a chance that it was genetic, but they’re thinking it was from outside influences,” Grant said.
“She could have had it for years before it manifested itself.
“Hopefully after we get this taken care of, it will leave us alone for a while,” Grant added.
When Stamarski first was diagnosed with leukemia, doctors wanted a transplant within three-five weeks for her best chance at survival.
“Her chances are going down all the time, but they still feel very positive that if they can get her a transplant right away, as soon as humanly possible, that she’s got a pretty good shot at fighting this.
“Carolyn is so brave and so strong. Her body has been through just terrible things the last couple of years, and she’s still fighting,” Grant stressed. “I stand back in awe of her.”
The family is grateful to be receiving support from the community, as well as from the “Community Chest,” which also helped the Stamarskis two years ago during her liver transplant.
“The ‘Community Chest’ has been giving them a helping hand,” Grant said. “They’ve come through for us both times. They’re an amazing organization.
“Both Carolyn and Rick appreciate all the thoughts and prayers from everybody,” she added.
For now, Stamarski is living in an apartment in Winnipeg not far from the hospital where she can receive treatment. Her husband, sons, and other family members visit as often as possible.
In the meantime, the family remains confident a donor will be found and Stamarski will be home soon.
“She is a walking miracle,” Grant said.