Donor and Recipient to Meet

Golf Fan Gave Gift of Life to Dying Child

An avid golf fan, Robin Heine faithfully attends the PING Banner Health LPGA Tournament in Phoenix every year. Three years ago, she joined the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) Registry at a donor drive hosted by the tournament. Almost two years later, she was informed that she was a match for a dying child. "I did not even hesitate. It was an opportunity to give someone a second chance, an opportunity to survive something she may never be capable of on her own," Robin said. Robin's gift of life gave Leandra Argyros a second chance at life. For Leandra, what seemed to be an ordinary ear infection led to the shocking diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

"I was devastated by the diagnosis. I did not expect what seemed to be an ordinary ear infection to turn into a life-threatening disease," said Connie Argyros, Leandra's mother. "I thought I was going to lose her."

Without a marrow or blood stem cell transplant, 11-year-old Leandra would most likely die. She needed a donor for the transplant. The most likely candidates for donors, her brother and mother, were not suitable donors. She would need an unrelated donor for her life-saving transplant. Her family turned to the National Marrow Donor Program for an unrelated volunteer donor. The transplant would require matching certain tissue traits of the donor and patient.

A search of the NMDP Registry revealed a donor. Five days after Christmas 2000, Leandra received her transplant. Today, 14 months after her transplant, Leandra is healthy, back at school, busy hanging out with her friends and playing her part in the school production of Annie this year. She is a gifted student who wants to attend Harvard Medical School to become a pediatric hematologist.

Leandra and her family will get to thank the stranger who gave her a second chance at life when they meet for the very first time at the PING Banner Health LPGA Tournament in Phoenix.

Leandra and her mother are anxious to meet Robin and thank her in person. Leandra has prepared a speech for the occasion. "I think I will be nervous but I am excited to meet her," she said. When Connie meets Robin, she wants to give her a hug for saving her daughter's life. "I cannot find the words to thank her enough," Connie said. "Robin saved my daughter's life. I may have given birth to her but Robin is the reason Leandra is alive today."

Portions of the proceeds from the PING Banner Health LPGA Tournament support the NMDP's Donor Center located at United Blood Services of Phoenix. The support has enabled thousands of people to join the NMDP Registry as potential volunteer marrow and blood stem cells donors. More volunteer donors, especially African Americans, Asian Pacific Islanders, Hispanics and American Indians/Alaska Natives are needed, so patients will have a chance at finding a matched donor. Because the characteristics used to match a donor and patient are inherited, the most likely match for a patient is someone who shares a similar heritage.

For information about the PING Banner Health LPGA Tournament, log onto www.phoenixlpga.com. For more information about the NMDP, how to become a donor or marrow and blood stem cell transplantation, call (800) MARROW-2.