Last week, 5-year-old Adelyn Troutman of Ahwatukee had her 80th monthly blood transfusion.
It’s been part of the little girl’s monthly routine ever since she was 2 months old and was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called Diamond-Blackfan anemia, which prohibits her body from making red blood cells.
The cells have a relatively short life span, so by the end of four weeks after her last transfusion, they’ve all died off, forcing the need for another transfusion of blood.
The transfusions themselves take a toll since they can cause a deadly increase in the amount of iron in her bloodstream, which can lead to heart and liver failure with little warning. So that has to be constantly monitored too.
Through it all, the youngster has been a delight for doctors and her teachers – and an inspiration to the community the last four years since Adelyn’s parents, Matt and Kami Troutman, started biannual blood drives as their way of giving back.
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