When their then five-year-old daughter Carmella developed bruising in unusual areas of her body and red blood dots on her skin, Jason and Jacqui Raguz rushed her to their local emergency room in Palm Beach. Initial testing showed a low platelet count, resulting in the need for further testing.
At Nicklaus Children’s Helen & Jacob Shaham Cancer & Blood Disorders Institute, Pediatric Neuro-Oncologist Dr. Ossama Maher diagnosed Carmella with Aplastic Anemia (AA) – a rare, sometimes life-threatening condition where the bone marrow does not produce enough blood cells. Carmella’s AA was severe, requiring a bone marrow transplant. With this new hurdle, Carmella's family members and friends were tested for compatibility. Her little brother Angelo, then only three years old, was a perfect match and became her donor.
Dr. Galvez Silva, Medical Director at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital’s Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program, performed the transplant procedure. Thanks to the specialized care at Nicklaus Children's, today Carmella has returned to playing her favorite sport of soccer and has forged an even greater bond with her brother.