Esmund

Esmund was diagnosed at birth (September 2012) with Thalassemia. Thalassemia is a blood disorder in which the body makes an abnormal form of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. The disorder results in large numbers of red blood cells being destroyed, which leads to anemia. Regular blood transfusions are part of the treatment, but this also causes health problems. Esmund’s only hope for long-term survival is a marrow transplant from a matching donor, probably from someone who is also Vietnamese.