Christmas Miracle: Bone Marrow Match Found For Pflugerville Girl

PFLUGERVILLE, TEXAS — This story has all the makings of a Christmas miracle.

A bone marrow donor match has been found for the little girl in Pflugerville diagnosed with aplastic anemia who's the daughter of a Pflugerville police officer Kurk Anderson and his wife, Kimberly. The 9-year-old was diagnosed in August with the rare blood disease that afflicts one in less than 20,000 people, launching a frantic search for a suitable donor.

The family announced the news on Friday, Nov. 30, on a page titled "Camryn's Relentless Battle" designed to call awareness to her medical needs. Family member said they were recently notified a U.S.-based donor was found, and now are preparing to start the transplant process on Jan. 1 — a remarkable development given the thousands of people still waiting to find such a match amid a dearth of available donors.

Camryn still will still need to spend six weeks in the hospital, followed by three more months under the careful watch of medical professionals to monitor her blood cell count daily, the family said on Facebook.

Related story: Pflugerville Officer Pleads For Daughter's Bone Marrow Match

On Thursday, Dec. 6, a fundraiser doubling as donor drive is scheduled at several Austin-area Chili's Grill & Bar restaurant locations — Stone Hill Shopping Center in Pflugerville, Round Rock Outlet by Ikea, Hutto and the Research Boulevard restaurant — as a way to help defray the family's medical costs. From 6 pm. to 9 p.m., Chili's will donate 15 percent of all food orders to patrons showing the flyer below:

Participating Chili's restaurants are located at:

• Pflugerville at the Stone Hill Shopping Center, 18901 Limestone Commercial Dr., (512) 989-2040.
• In North Round Rock at the Outlet by Ikea, 4401 N. Interstate 35, Suite No. 2001, (512) 863-5100.
• In Hutto, 614 W. Hwy 79, (512) 846-1761.
• In Austin at 9070 Research Blvd., (512) 451-6228.

And there's even more good news: The Andersons noted some 2,000 potential bone marrow donors were registered as news of Camryn's plight spread in recent months. Now filled with renewed hope, Camryn's parents urge more people to register in order to give another child or adult in need the life-saving gift of bone marrow. Those interested in becoming donors should visit BeTheMatch.org.

Those unable to attend Thursday fundraisers at area Chili's restaurants but still wish to pitch in to help cover Camryn's hospital bills can do so by clicking here. There's also a GoFundMe page that's raised nearly $30,000 of a $35,000 goal.

Don't forget: For dinner on Thursday, Dec. 6, head on over to your neighborhood Chili's restaurant. They've got good eats, and food will never have tasted better.

>>> Read the full story at Fox 7

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