Liviya’s Story

Liviya’s Story
by Brian Anderson

Liviya was born in San Diego on September 28th 2004.  She was a full-term baby with no complications at birth.  In October of 2010 Liviya was diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia, a condition where the body’s bone marrow stops producing new blood cells including white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets.  This condition is most typically seen in patients with Leukemia.  However, Liviya did not have Leukemia.  For some unknown reason, her body’s T-Cells, (which are responsible for fighting disease and infection in the body), attacked her bone marrow, essentially shutting down all production of new cells.  Her T-Cells continued to attack her long after the virus that triggered the reaction was eradicated by antibiotics.

The two treatments available to correct this condition were a bone marrow transplant, and or immune suppression.  The best candidate for the bone marrow transplant was Liviya’s brother, Jake age 8.  As it turned out, Jake’s blood type was not a perfect match for this transplant and immune suppression was recommended by the Hematologist Oncologist in charge of her recovery.  Immune suppression is a treatment where an animal’s live antibody, either horse or rabbit, (in her case a horse), is transfused into the body for 8 days.  This process kills back the T-Cell population until there is virtually no immune system remaining.  Powerful drugs are also administered during this process.  She was then prescribed drugs that help rebuild the bone marrow in hopes that it will regenerate and begin producing new blood cells once again.

To date, Liviya is still receiving an immune suppression drug, (Tacrolimus), that is holding back her T-Cell production.  Without a normal immune system she is very susceptible to colds and viruses at school.  She was recently diagnosed with Influenza and is being treated with powerful antibiotics until she fully recovers.  In May, the doctors will begin slowly reducing the Tacrolimus.  If all goes well and her blood levels remain steady, the drug will eventually be phased out.  If this initial treatment does not work, then the rabbit antibodies will be transfused, if that doesn’t work a bone marrow transplant outside the family will be considered.

Liviya Anderson continues to bravely fight aplastic anemia with the help of blood donors like you

Through the past 6 months Liviya has had many, many blood and platelet transfusions, surgeries and hospital stays.  A broviac catheter was implanted into her chest to receive all of the medications involved with her treatments.  She has received countless needles in her arms, wrists, and hands.  The hospital treating her, (UNC Chapel Hill), recently started a program called “Beads of Courage.” To quote the website: “The Program is a resilience-based intervention designed to support and strengthen the protective resources in children coping with serious illness. Through the program children tell their story using colorful beads as meaningful symbols of courage that commemorate milestones they have achieved along their unique treatment path.”  Liviya recently began receiving glass beads to represent each of the milestones she has completed through her treatments.  These beads now almost fill two complete 18” necklaces and she can describe the meaning of each bead in great detail.  It is difficult to see these beads and not be impressed by the resilience these children have to their personal major illnesses.  Their courage and willingness to go along with any procedure required of them should be an inspiration to all of us.

It is impossible not to mention the American Red Cross.  Without blood donations Liviya would not be with us today.  With all of the progress we have seen in medicine to date we still cannot create a substitute for blood, it must be donated.  The ARC has asked our family to share Liviya’s story to help promote and put a face to the importance of blood donations.

2012 Update: Liviya has been featured in a WRAL-TV news story about aplastic anemia with Dr. Allen Mask, in which her family re-iterated the importance of blood donations to Liviya's success. Read the article here