Advocate Profile: Kate Boggan
At ten months old, Kate Boggan was diagnosed with Congenital Amegakaryocytic Thrombocytopenia (CAMT), a rare and fatal type of bone marrow failure.
When doctors told her parents, Lindsey and Alex, that Kate would need a bone marrow transplant, Lindsey said they tried to prepare themselves for the tough road ahead. "No one ever expects to hear the words 'the only thing that will save your child's life is a bone marrow transplant,"' Lindsey said. "Our lives were forever changed that morning."
While Kate was going through treatment, the Boggans learned that she would soon be a big sister and that her brother Will wouold also be born with CAMT.
Kate received her life-saving transplant in 2011 from an unrelated donor found on the Be The Match Registry®. In 2013, the family met her donor, and their families quickly formed a close bond.
With both children being transplant recipients, Lindsey is a committed advocate for Be The Match®. On June 12, 2014, Kate and Lindsey shared theird courageous story with legislators --the same day as Will's one-year transplant anniversary.
During their visit to D.C., Kate and Lindsey carried the important message of continued support for the C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program.
Kate will spend this summer swimming with Will, enjoying cheerleading camps with her friends and preparing to be the flower girl at her donor's wedding this fall.
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