Alana Dung:

Remembering a Toddler's Legacy

A parent's worst nightmare became reality for Stephen and Adelia Dung. They were informed that their one-year-old daughter, Alana, had leukemia and needed a bone marrow transplant to survive.

Alana would need a compatible marrow donor for the transplant. The most likely candidates, her parents and her brother, Spencer, were not compatible. Desperate to save their daughter's life, the Dungs went public and appealed to the people of Hawaii for help. Marrow transplants require matching certain tissue traits of the donor and patient. Because these traits are inherited, an Asian or Pacific Islander patient, such as Alana, will most likely match another Asian or Pacific Islander.

The Dungs mobilized their army of family and friends and the search for a marrow donor was on. The coalition of family and friends organized marrow drives, volunteered their time and energy recruiting and educating the community about the need for marrow donors. The efforts spread and moved to the mainland United States. The search continued and extended beyond the United States. Registries in other countries were contacted in hopes of finding a match for Alana.

Thousands all over the country responded and joined the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) Registry in hopes of offering Alana a chance. People from all walks of life waited for hours in long lines to be tested. In four weeks, more than 30,000 people in Hawaii alone joined the Registry, tripling the Hawaii donor base. Eventually, Alana found a match from the Tzu Chi Foundation Registry in Taiwan and received her transplant. The Tzu Chi Foundation Registry has since joined the NMDP network as a cooperative registry.

Alana's new marrow seemed to be functioning well. But months later, Alana relapsed and the disease returned. After a long and exhaustive battle, at age 3, Alana died peacefully in her sleep, 15 months after her transplant.

Adelia and her family are very thankful for the heart-warming support they received when Alana was searching for a marrow donor. People stepped forward and made a big difference. Adelia would have loved to personally thank each of the 30,000 people who joined the Registry if she could. She also has a message for them.

"If you joined the Registry in hopes of helping Alana, don't be discouraged. Remain on the Registry. Someday, you may be called upon to make a difference and save someone's life," Adelia said. "The miracle of matching does happen. Alana was a lucky recipient."

"Several individuals who responded to Alana's plight have turned out to be matches for other patients. You couldn't help Alana but there are others who desperately need a matched donor. Stay committed and remain on the Registry. When you are called upon to donate, remember that it is a special gift you can give someone. It is the gift of life. Remember Alana in your heart and continue Alana's legacy by saving lives," Adelia said.

"The transplant gave us one more year with Alana and we will always be thankful for that. We got to enjoy Alana's zest for life for one more year. She lived a wonderful life and our donor made it possible for us to have that one additional year with her," Adelia said. "Although we did not have the outcome we had hoped for, we still feel blessed and grateful. Alana was fortunate. Someone cared and came forward and gave Alana a chance."

Not all patients are as lucky as Alana. Each year, thousands of Asian and Pacific Islander patients, are diagnosed with a life-threatening disease that can be treated with a marrow transplant. Unfortunately, 70 percent of patients do not find a match within their own families. They will need an unrelated individual willing to donate marrow.

More Asians and Pacific Islanders are needed as marrow donors. In the spirit of Asian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the NMDP and the Dung family are encouraging the Asian and Pacific Islander community to make a difference and give the gift of life by becoming a marrow donor.

"Everyone has the ability to help people. It doesn't matter what you do for a living or what ethnicity you are. Everyone has the opportunity to make a difference and save a life. You don't get the opportunity to make a difference too often. Joining the NMDP Registry as a marrow donor and staying committed is one way, you, as an individual, can make a difference," Adelia said.

If you are currently listed with the NMDP Registry, please continue your commitment towards saving lives by notifying your donor center or calling the NMDP if you have a change in your address or significant change affecting your long-term health.