36 Months To Live Is Now 12 Months – Little McKinze Needs A Bone Marrow Donor

By Carl Fish

Lake Wales, Florida – I don’t know any other way to put it at this point. Those of us that are friends of McKinze’s are on our knee’s at this point. One way is praying and knowing that God has a plan. The other is begging that people will take a few moments and try to do what ever they can to help little McKinze Clayton.

Seven year old McKinze Clayton, of Lake Wales, Florida,  was originally diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome, the same disease as Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts. This diagnosis typically warrants a 36-month life span without treatment. Test results last week showed her bone marrow has mutated into a second disease, Monosomy 7, and her prognosis of survival has been decreased to 12 months without a chemotherapy and radiation combination. However, treatment is not possible without a concurrent bone marrow transplant. The search for the one person who is a perfect marrow match is in full force.

“It is very important to my family and I, that we find a donor soon, or we will be living a future without Mckinze.” said Donna Hayes Whitacker, McKinze’s mother!

The most important thing you can do is share her story with your friends. Get the word out and not only will a whole community support McKinze, but possibly a whole nation. Please “Like” McKinze’s Crusade Facebook page to keep up with everything: McKinze’s Crusade

The second most important thing is go to bethematch.org and join the registry. It is FREE! It is Painless. Just sign up and they will send you a kit to swab your mouth and send back. Your information will be put into a data base in which doctors will be able to find out if you are a match for McKinze or another person who’s life you may be able to save. If you are between the ages of 18 & 44, you are the prime candidate to donate bone marrow. If you not in that age group you are urged to promote it to anyone and everyone you know.

The third thing you can do is to help the family by donating or shopping at community yard sale which  is being held January 26th from 7a – 5p. at 7885 Lake Mabel Loop Road, LW *behind Dundee Ridge Middle, on the way to Cherry Pocket (there will be plenty of signage the morning of the sale). The sale is to raise funds to help with the family’s cost of travel to Orlando and Tampa for treatment. If you have items to donate go to McKinze’s Crusade facebook page and message them that you would like to donate and how to reach you.

 Please join us in getting on your knees for McKinze! Pray for her and if need be beg others to have a heart and care for this little girl. “This is my baby girl that I raised and want to raise to become a very successful lady. And to think I may have to bury my child kills me. So as I sit here and cry, I need every one to say lots of prayers for McKinze and spread the word bethematch.org encourage them to sign up.” – Donna Hayes Whitaker