Portland child meets Texas donor who saved her
DALLAS — Watching the four Giles children playing at a Dallas hotel, it’s impossible to tell which one almost died last year from leukemia.
That’s because six-year-old Avarie is recovering so well, it’s nothing less than a miracle to her Portland, Oregon family.
“She was so sick, she couldn’t move from the bed, she couldn’t stand to be touched. She couldn’t eat,” said her mom, Janelle Rhyasen. “She was hooked up to tubes everywhere.”
Avarie even lost her ability to walk. Chemotherapy cost her all of her hair, and when she didn’t respond to the treatment, her chance of surviving dropped below 50 percent.
A bone marrow transplant was her only chance, but when none of her siblings matched, Kyle Lusk of Rowlett did.
“A friend of mine through high school had a similar disease,” Lusk recalled. “All of his buddies got together and got tested to see who matched.”
That’s how his name ended up in the donor registry. He didn’t match his friend, but his bone marrow saved a little girl’s life
Avarie’s mother could not be more grateful.
“I love that man,” Rhyasen said. “I’ve never met him, but his blood runs through my baby and he is part of my family. He gave my daughter back life that I couldn’t give her, and without him she would not be here.”
As the names of donors are kept secret, the only connection between Avarie and her donor was a toy duck. It turns out that Lusk’s mother — who later died of leukemia — sent it to Avarie, along with his stem cells.
Avarie named him “Donor Duck,” and he is her constant companion.
On Thursday, in celebration of the success of its bone marrow program, Baylor University Medical Center made Kyle Lusk the guest of honor at this year’s banquet.
What better place for Avarie and her mom to finally meet him?
With a smile that could light up half of Dallas, the young mother hugged, said thanks, then hugged him again.
“It feels amazing to meet you,” Rhyasen said. “I just want to say thank you.”
Lusk’s response? “No problem at all.”
Avarie smiled too, and hugged her Donor Duck.
Kyle Lusk said he knows his mother would be proud.
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