Colorado Thai Child To:

Meet His Lifesaving Marrow Donor on National Television Show

Adopted from Thailand at age 5, 11-year-old Zak Rossbach has endured more than most kids his age. In addition to massive cultural and lifestyle changes, he came to America without speaking a word of English. Then, Zak was handed another challenge. He was diagnosed with severe aplastic anemia.

To survive, Zak would need a transplant of healthy stem cells from another individual. Stem cells are immature cells that can develop into red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. The transplant would require matching certain tissue traits of the donor and Zak. Because the characteristics that determine whether a donor and patient match are inherited, the best chance of finding a matched donor is from a sibling. Because Zak is adopted, he would need a compatible unrelated donor for the transplant. Although it is possible for a Asian/Pacific Islander patient such as Zak to match a donor from any racial or ethnic group, the most likely match is another a Asian/Pacific Islander.

Zak and his family turned to the National Marrow Donor Program^® (NMDP) for help. A search of the NMDP Registry identified a donor. Zak received his transplant in September 1998 and is now living a healthy life. Zak and his family will get to thank the stranger who gave him a second chance at life when they meet Zak's donor, Joseph Philipose, 27, for the very first time November 18 at the taping of a special Thanksgiving Montel Williams Show. The segment is scheduled to air Nov. 24.

This Thanksgiving, the Rossbach family is thankful. "We are so grateful to Joseph. Two years ago, Zak was so tired he had to ride piggy-back on my shoulders to watch the town's 4th of July parade. This year, Zak was able to proudly ride his decorated bike in the kid's parade. But just looking at Zak today makes one think that, yes, miracles do happen," said Gary Rossbach, Zak's father.

Joseph, an Asian Indian, who grew up in New York City, reflects on his gift of life. "How could I say no to a child in need? If I had a child in need of a donor, and I, as a parent, could not help him, I would hope that someone out there would be willing to help my child. It was the right and the only thing to do," Joseph said. "All I did was give Zak a fighting chance to beat his disease."