A Rare Diagnosis Nearly Took Her Life, But She Was Saved by a Bone Marrow Transplant!

NEW YORK - July 31, 2025 - PRLog -- When Avery collapsed during ballet class, her parents were terrified. They had no idea it was the first sign of a life-threatening illness. The four-year-old from Tullahoma, Tennessee had been unusually tired, barely eating, and covered in unexplained bruises. After she passed out, her parents rushed her to the nearest doctor in a panic.

In tears, her mother, Hayley, described to the doctor what had been happening. They ordered a blood test and then called the nearest Children's Hospital to have here admitted immediately. Without urgent care, Avery might not survive the weekend.

Avery was diagnosed with aplastic anemia, a rare and life-threatening condition. A bone marrow transplant was her only chance. Her mother stayed at the hospital, three hours from home, while her father stayed home to care for their other children.

"We were scared and separated. And the costs were overwhelming," said Hayley. "We were told there was no funding for her condition."

Their landlord offered no relief: "Just because people get sick doesn't mean you don't have to pay your bills." The family feared they would lose their home.

Hayley joined a Facebook support group, where someone suggested reaching out to the Icla da Silva Foundation, a nonprofit that helps families like hers afford the extra costs of treatment like housing, transportation, and meals.

"Receiving support from the Foundation took away some of the burden and a lot of the stress. Avery's doing better every day. We're finally moving forward."
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Avery's 10-year-old brother turned out to be a perfect match and became her bone marrow donor. Thanks to his gift, and the support they received, Avery is recovering.

Treatment continues through September. The journey isn't over, but their family finally has hope.

You can help. Your donation will support families facing overwhelming challenges during transplant treatment.

To make a gift, visit: https://icla.org/when-a-diagnosis-changes-everything/?form=FUNJZFXEVAY

About the Icla da Silva Foundation

The Icla da Silva Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to helping low-income patients receive bone marrow transplants. Founded in memory of Icla da Silva, a 13-year-old girl who lost her life to leukemia, the Foundation has supported over 1,900 patients since 2022. Focused on underserved communities, they remove barriers to care by providing financial, emotional, and logistical support from diagnosis to recovery.

Learn more at www.icla.org.