Community Responds to 5-year-old's Blood Transfusion Need

Blood Type Match is Found After Family Posts Facebook Plea

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by Reporter: Natalie Travis
by Photographer: Eric Stratton

Story Created: Jan 9, 2013 at 11:42 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Jan 10, 2013 at 12:04 AM AKDT

ANCHORAGE--- 5-year-old Jordynn Palombia received a much need B negative blood transfusion, after the community responded to a plea for help. Palombia's 21-year-old mother, Desire Sherburne, says her daughter has Sickle Cell Disease, passed on from parents to children though their genes.

"Our cells are shaped liked circles and hers are shaped like crescent moons," Sherburne said Wednesday (1/9/13). "They are really sharp, so it's hard to get though the veins and her immune system isn't as strong as a regular kid."

The transfusion was needed after Sherburne found out her daughter had pneumonia.

Doctors looked for Palombia's type, but came up empty handed. So the little girl's loved ones put out a Facebook post asking for help and prayers.

Local radio station KWHL also put the call out.  After that, Sherburne says the help poured in and a match was found for her daughter.

"It put me in tears because, I'm not used to that," Sherburne said. "That was just the best, seeing so much support, because it was people I didn't even know and a lot of people put a lot of effort and I was so thankful."

  

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Debra Escalera said on Thursday, Jan 10 at 9:24 AM

I share my heartfelt thank you for everyone that contributed to my great granddaughter's recovery. She's a very special little girl with a great big heart for life. I hope that this coverage of her hospital stay will ignite docs and scientist to press to find a cure for everyone effected by this ailment.

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