(WWJ) A Farmington Hills family is rallying the community this Saturday with the hope of finding a perfect bone marrow donor match for their 6-year-old son.
Ryder Washington is scheduled to undergo a bone marrow transplant in late March or April to stop his rare blood disorder from progressing to cancer-- regardless of whether they find a perfect match, his mother said.
“(Ryder) is that kid who never meets a stranger,” His mother, Kimberli Washington, said. “People are walking through a mall and high-fiving him.”
Washington said Ryder always has a Monster truck “in hand.” And when his beloved Wolverines play, he is wearing his Michigan hoodie, helmet and carrying his Michigan football.
The Washington family is hoping dozens to hundreds turn out to a bone marrow drive this weekend at Novi Christian Academy in Novi (inside Door A), on 13 Mile near M-5, to get registered for the National Bone Marrow Registry through the non-profit Be The Match. It will take place this Saturday (2/12) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“Have an open mind,” Washington said. “Just a small simple gesture, a minor inconvenience for you could save my child’s life.”
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From beginning to end, the registration process takes less than 10 minutes. Attendees will be asked a series of screening questions regarding their health and personal information such as name, phone number, and email. They will then undergo a painless swabbing of the cheek (it takes 20 seconds) to collect a sample of cells. People aged 18 to 40 in good health are eligible to register as donors, and it's free. Scroll to the bottom to learn other ways to join Ryder's team if you're not available on Saturday or ineligible to donate.
Ryder was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome in February 2021, when his parents took him to the pediatrician after he lost his first tooth and did not stop bleeding.
Boston Children’s Hospital said MDS, a disorder that interferes with the bone marrow's ability to produce all types of blood cells, occurs in 4 out of every million children. According to Boston Children’s, in about one-third of cases, it progresses to a pernicious type of leukemia that’s harder to cure and associated with worst outcomes than leukemia without MDS origins.
Ryder's doctors say time is of the essence, and a bone marrow transplant is the best course of action for him. In Ryder’s case, they say the chance of his MDS progressing to cancer is “very likely.”
Washington said no cancer has been detected in Ryder’s body yet: “The key for us is to go in before the cancer comes.”
The Washington family is made up of the four musketeers (plus grandma and grandpa)—Ryder, big brother Tyson (11), mom Kimberli, and dad Terrence. Ryder's mom, dad and brother all are 50% bone marrow matches.
Doctors will move forward with a 50% match, but it’s not ideal.
Be The Match, the national bone marrow registry has approximately 37 million potential donors registered for patients who do not have a familial match.
None is a perfect match for Ryder.
“If you find someone that’s a 100% match, there’s less risk of infection and a better chance the transplant takes,” Washington said.
Nonetheless, the wheels are already set in motion for the transplant later this spring.
Washington said her husband and son are undergoing extensive physicals to make sure they are healthy enough to move forward. Ryder is taking two medications to “gear up his body” for the transplant—which usually lands a patient in the hospital for a month or more in isolation and includes a grueling chemotherapy regimen prior to the transplant.
She said the purpose of the intense treatment is to wipe out his immune system, so it does not attack the donor marrow: “They destroy everything.”
“He’ll have to get all of his immunizations done again, all of his vaccines,” Washington said.
Washington and her husband are working on preparing Ryder and the rest of the family for the transplant, including buying age-appropriate books and watching YouTube videos to educate him about what he’ll be going through.
“Even last week, he had to get some blood work done and he kept saying, am I going to die? Am I going to die? Why are you doing this?” Washington said.
She said they told him: “We’re just trying to keep you safe.”
The Washingtons are also focusing on finding ways to stay together while Ryder is in isolation—such as making sure everyone has an iPad to FaceTime with each other. Washington bought Ryder a doll that resembles his big brother Tyson, and Tyson a doll that looks like Ryder so they will have “always have someone to keep them company during that time.”
Beyond their tight-knit family, Washington said they have been brought to tears many times since Ryder’s diagnosis by the kindness of strangers.
Over the holidays, they received a box of handmade Christmas cards from soldiers and cadets at West Point addressed to Ryder.
“I lost it!” Washington said. “I had to close the box.”
“Who does this for a perfect stranger? It’s so amazing!” Washington said. “People have such good hearts.”
Washington is hoping to witness that same kindness exemplified on Saturday at the bone marrow drive at Novi Christian Academy. They're holding onto hope that a perfect match is out there but hasn't been found.... yet.
“Even if you’re on the fence, come out,” she said. “There will be people from Be The Match who can educate you.”
According to Be The Match, the bone marrow donation process is typically an outpatient surgical procedure done under anesthesia and preceded by a physical. Possible side effects from donation include muscle or back pain that typically resolves within a few weeks. There are no long-term effects on the donor.
Be The Match and the patient’s insurance will cover all costs associated with donating, according to the non-profit.
Donors will be kept anonymous from the recipient family for at least a year (and vice versa). After that time, if both parties agree, Be The Match will unveil their identities to one another. Often, donor and recipient will form a lifelong bond.
"I can't wait for the day when it's all over and Ryder can meet his donor," Washington said.
In the meantime, Washington said Ryder is focusing on having fun with family and enjoying playdates with his friends in the snow.
“It’s something I’ve really learned from him,” she said. “He lives a good life.”
Details of Saturday's bone marrow drive:
Novi Christian Academy
40800 W. 13 Mile Rd. Novi, MI 48377 (near M-5)
Saturday, February 12, 11a-2p
How to join Team Racing4Ryder if you can't come out on Saturday:
-Click this link or text Racing4Ryder to 61474.
-Or you can scan the QR code here. (Scroll down). At these links, you will also be able to request a free at-home swab and test kit.
-You can live anywhere in the country and still be a potential donor for Ryder.
-You must be between the ages of 18 and 40 and in good health. See list of disqualifying health conditions.
- Take a picture of yourself swabbing your cheek to show Ryder and the Washington family how many people are rallying behind them.
-If you are not eligible to be a donor, you can still help the family by spreading the word and encouraging your loved ones who meet the guidelines to register as potential donors. Washington said they also need all the "good vibes and prayers" they can get.
You can keep up with Ryder's story on Racing4Ryder.com
Keep in mind: If you’re not a match for Ryder, you may still save someone else’s life. Bone marrow/stem cell transplants can cure over 70 blood diseases and blood cancers, including leukemia, lymphoma, sickle cell, and aplastic anemia. According to Be The Match, 70% of people do not have a matched donor within their family and an unrelated match through the registry is their only hope.