Howdy Ags! I couldn't think of a better way to get this message out to the Houston area than through TexAgs. My husband (Class of 84) is a pastor here in Northwest Arkansas. We have a family that is in desperate need of help for their 17 year old who is fighting Very Severe Aplastic Anemia in Houston at Texas Children's. He has been approved for and matched with a bone marrow donor, however cannot receive the transplant until he can overcome a liver infection. He is in desperate need of white blood cell donations daily. The process to donate is more complicated than a regular blood donation and must be done at the MD Anderson Blood Bank, which has limited their ability to draw on support from friends and family here in NWA. We are trying to get the word out to as many as possible in the Houston area that may feel it is within their ability to donate WBC for Zach. We would appreciate anyone who can share this message, pray for Zach, and consider a directed WBC donation to him if possible!

A message from his parents:

Houston my son needs your HELP!!!!
We have traveled from Arkansas to Houston so our son Zachary can receive a bone marrow transplant at Texas Children's Hospital. Zachary is 17 and is being treated for Very Severe Aplastic Anemia, a rare bone marrow failure disease. At this time, he is in desperate need of White Blood Cell donations. We are asking if you or anyone you know might be able to help support our son through a donation. Unfortunately, due to a lack of production in his own white blood cells, he is unable to fight a liver infection and cannot continue with the bone marrow transplant. In order to compensate for this debilitating decline in production he requires donations daily from healthy donors. In order to be cleared as a donor for our son, please consider making an appointment for prescreening. This will require lab work and a physical, completely free of charge, at the MD Anderson Blood Bank. Donors can call the MD Anderson Blood Bank for any questions regarding white blood cell donations at 713-792-7777. Please ensure that you notify them you are interested in donating white cells for Zachary Couture at Texas Children's Hospital. At this time, the Houston MD Anderson Blood Bank is the only location that can accommodate the donation screening process as well as white blood cell donation.
Thank you for your lifesaving contribution! May God Bless you!
Sincerely,
The Couture Family