Jessica - Bone Marrow Transplant on July 8, 1999

Kindergartner Jessica is doing her homework. First, she colors various shapes that will become Christmas tree ornaments. Then she uses grown-up scissors to cut out the little squares, triangles, circles and stars that she carefully glues onto a paper tree. After drawing in several strings of colored lights, she declares her project finished and runs off to find her favorite video. Watching her, you’d never guess that Jessica had Hurler's syndrome, which claims most of its victims before the age of 3.

Hurler's syndrome is a rare genetic condition in which the body doesn’t produce a necessary enzyme. The result is a build-up of cellular material that clogs and damages healthy tissue. Typical symptoms include heart problems, respiratory problems, skeletal abnormalities, clouded vision, mental retardation and, potentially, death. Though there isn’t a cure, a bone marrow transplant can stop the progress of the disease.

From birth, Jessica had several seemingly unrelated health problems that she just didn’t outgrow. The family’s local clinic referred them to a genetic counselor at University of Minnesota Children's Hospital, Fairview. “We came here right away and then found out this is the No. 1 place for BMT (blood and bone marrow transplant),” says Colleen, Jessica’s mom.

Jessica had a bone marrow transplant when she was 21 months old. A little more than a month later, Jessica’s parents brought her home with lots of helpful advice from the University of Minnesota Children's Hospital staff about managing all the medication and recuperation. Happily, her engraftment was 100 percent successful. She’s off all medication now and revisits University of Minnesota Children's Hospital annually for check-ups.

Though she’s seen the scrapbook of her time in the hospital, Jessica doesn’t really remember her transplant. She’s too busy being 6.