Bradley to get transfusion

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, March 8, 2011

If all goes well, Andalusia native Mandy Williamson Bradley will receive a much-needed bone marrow transplant Wednesday, her mother said Sunday.

Amanda Bradley is shown with her husband, Chris, and three children -- Sara, Evan and Emily.

Bradley was recently diagnosed with aplastic anemia, a condition in which her body’s blood producing bone marrow has shut down.

Anemia is a condition where red blood cells, which carry oxygen to all the parts of the body, are used up faster than the bone marrow can replace them. Parvovirus infection in people with anemia may stop the production of red blood cells and can cause an anemia crisis. People with sickle cell anemia are at particular risk.

Her only option to survive is to receive a bone marrow transplant.

In January, Bradley received news that there were six possible bone marrow matches at a drive held for her.

Now, Bradley is at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn., and is in ICU with a lung infection, but is stable, Kathy Williamson said.

“She has one more day of chemo. and one day of radiation,” Williamson said. “Then we’ll have a transplant on Wednesday, if all goes well.”

Williamson said this transplant means everything to her daughter.

“This will be a miracle,” she said. “And a new life for my daughter, a new beginning for our family.”

Williamson asked that everyone continue to pray for Bradley.

“Prayers are what we need,” she said. “God is in control.”