Two Cincinnati women are in the fight of their lives and are calling on the community for help. Deneal Dannelly, at 29 years old, suffers from end-stage renal failure and desperately needs a kidney transplant. Emily Sikora, a 35-year-old mother and creative professional, is battling a rare blood cancer and is in search of a lifesaving stem cell donor. The University of Cincinnati reports on these women's plights and the critical role potential donors play.
Despite the community's efforts, with over 60 individuals tested, a kidney match for Dannelly has yet to be found. Dannelly's daily life is a struggle with extreme fatigue and muscle weakness due to her condition. "Dialysis isn't living, it's existing," Dannelly told The University of Cincinnati. The need for a donor is urgent, as Dannelly has been active on the transplant list since January 2024. Potential donors are encouraged to learn more and see if they could be a match by requesting a swab test through Off the List, an organization that assists individuals like Dannelly in finding living kidney donors.
Similarly, Emily Sikora's condition is deteriorating, and finding an unrelated stem cell donor is a painstakingly difficult process. Diagnosed with primary myelofibrosis, a condition usually found in those over 60, Sikora is navigating less-charted waters. "You have the possibility to save someone's life facing blood cancer or a blood disorder they can't survive without a transplant," Sikora emphasizes, urging people to consider becoming a donor, according to the University of Cincinnati. Prospective donors can request a swab through DKMS to see if they can be the lifesaving match for Emily or others in her predicament.
In addition, Hoxworth Blood Center's Apheresis and Cellular Therapies Department works tirelessly to process and provide stem cell and bone marrow products for local and global patients. In 2024 alone, Hoxworth facilitated 642 organ transplants and collected numerous bone marrow and stem cell products for patients both locally and worldwide. The incredible impact of these procedures is testament to the difference a single donor can make in the lives of those in need.
