ALFREDO’S ONLY HOPE IS A MATCHING DONOR
Nine-year-old Alfredo lives in Chicago and has struggled with health issues since birth. He spent the first three years of his life in and out of the hospital while doctors tried to determine what was causing his failure to thrive and major gastro-intestinal issues. He was finally diagnosed with IL-10 Receptor Deficiency, a genetic disorder so rare that there are less than 100 cases in the United States. Alfredo’s only hope for a cure is a blood stem cell transplant from a matching donor.
Alfredo’s immune system is working overtime attacking his body—even his healthy organs and cells. He is on immunosuppressive medication to try to help. Even with medications, Alfredo struggles with quality-of-life issues and requires an ostomy bag and nutrition from a feeding tube administered each night. He gets hospitalized regularly due to infections. All of this could go away with a blood stem cell transplant, but he doesn’t have a donor match. Matching is based on DNA and heritage, so Alfredo is more likely to match with someone who shares his Mexican ancestry. Unfortunately, only 48% of Hispanic and Latino patients find a matching donor on the registry because there aren’t enough Hispanic and Latino donors registered.
Despite all his suffering, Alfredo’s spirit makes him a true miracle. He dreams of becoming a basketball player or following in the footsteps of one of his favorite WWE wrestlers. You could make those dream possible–it only takes one person to cure Alfredo. Could it be you? JOIN TODAY!
ORPHANS OF THE STORM HAS FULL KENNELS!
We invite you to come, match and adopt a friend for life! Orphans of the Storm will be here with their adoptable animals!
Their mission is to take responsibility for each and every orphaned, abandoned, abused or neglected dog and cat which reaches our doors; to take them in and shelter them; to provide the best medical and physical care possible for them; to nurture them back to health if need be; and finally to place them into warm, loving, adoptive homes where they can enjoy the lives they deserve.
Since its founding, Orphans of the Storm has had a long history of humane service to the community. The vision began with Irene Castle in the 1930s and 1940s, followed by the leadership of animal welfare activist Thelma Zwirner in the 1970s and 1980s and continuing today with Thelma’s son, current volunteer President Richard Zwirner. Orphans of the Storm has been serving most of the animal control facilities and municipalities in Illinois’ Lake and northern Cook Counties ever since. For literally hundreds of thousands of homeless animals, Orphans has been the refuge of last resort. 🐕 CLICK HERE TO SEE THE DOGS 🐈 CLICK HERE TO SEE THE CATS
