CINCINNATI, OH (FOX19) -
A Cincinnati Reds employee who has been
battling a rare blood disease had a successful bone marrow transplant.
Chris Herrell tweeted on Tuesday that the
transplant was complete and was 4 hours and 15 minutes long.
"4/23/2013 = My New Birthday,"
Herrell tweeted. "Thanks Mr. German donor."
Herrell, 39, was diagnosed with a rare blood
disease called Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) in November of last year. Herrell
has worked in the Reds' ticket sales office for 15 years. Herrell was in search
for a bone marrow match for months before doctors found the best match, a donor
from Germany.
"It's not unusual, especially in
Cincinnati with a large German population," said Dr. Jim Essell at Jewish
Hospital.
"He is having a rough day today, but
even though this is a really hard day and a hard day to see him go through
this," said Laurie Herrell, Chris' wife. "We are day plus one and I would
never go back."
Over the last several months, the Cincinnati
Reds and other local organizations held bone marrow drives in hopes to find a
match.
Chris' wife says support from the community
has been overwhelming and that support was shown during the Reds-Cubs game
Tuesday night when the words "Happy Transplant Day Chris" showed up
on the Jumbotron.
"Chris wasn't feeling very well at that
point, to see that I was bombarded with pictures from everyone, it was pretty
emotional," said Laurie Herrell.
Chris' fight for full health is far from
over, but his life has been saved. Now he hopes others can experience that same
feeling.
"Just please, please don't think because
Chris has had his transplant, don't let this go out of your minds," said
Herrell. "Please sign up for "Be the Match."
To
find out more information and register for "Be the Match" go to www.bethematch.org.
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