Youngster Gets Second Chance at Life with Bone Marrow Transplant

Quentin Latimer’s life was threatened by sickle cell disease, an inherited disorder he was diagnosed with at birth. He had mini-strokes and was in danger of having a massive stroke. Today, the 8-year-old boy is cured of the disease, thanks to a bone marrow transplant with the marrow donated by his sister and subsequent care at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital.

Throughout his young life, Quentin had been treated with medications and regular blood transfusions. But treatment options for sickle cell disease are limited, and the complications are many and severe.

The best option to treat Quentin’s sickle cell disease was a bone marrow transplant. That’s where the UH Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant team came in.

Quentin desperately needed a bone marrow transplant to replace his dysfunctional red blood cells with healthy, functional red blood cells. Physicians in the Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Program at UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital collaborated to ensure a successful outcome for Quentin.

According to the team, “Bone marrow transplant is not about the procedure. Rather it is about the high-quality specialty care in the days, weeks, months and years following transplant. Our multidisciplinary team is exceptional at providing that long-term care patients like Quentin require to remain healthy.”

Quentin’s younger sister, Sheila, was a perfect match to donate bone marrow to him, and the transplant was a success.

His mother, Vincente Upchurch, is grateful to the staff at UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital for treating Quentin and helping him become a normal, healthy boy.

“Quentin’s care at UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital was spectacular,” said Upchurch. “Thank you to the Rainbow team for giving Quentin a second chance at life.”