The Givargiznia family got some welcome news this week. Ten-year-old Dylan, who has been battling a rare form of leukemia since he was 6 years old, went into remission and a life-saving bone marrow donor has been found.
“We are extremely, extremely excited and thankful,” said Dylan’s dad, Arnet Givargiznia.
Dylan had returned to a Bay Area hospital earlier this summer for another round of treatment. His doctors had ordered heavy doses of chemotherapy to try and get the cancer into remission, so he would be able to receive a bone marrow transplant should a donor be found. Without a bone marrow transplant, Dylan’s chance of a recovery were slim his dad said.
“It was such a surprise,” Givargiznia said. “He was getting these heavy doses of chemo, but nothing was changing. Then all of a sudden the lab results came back Monday and showed that he was in remission.”
The Givargiznia family won’t know the identity of the donor until a year has passed, but Arnet did know the bone marrow is coming from a 23-year-old man in the United States.
“He’s a 10 out of a 10 match,” Givargiznia said. “That’s the best of the best.”
The bone marrow registry even found a back-up donor just in case.
Dylan’s surgery is set for Sept. 7.
In June, BloodSource and the national bone marrow registry held a drive in Turlock in Dylan’s name and registered 131 new donors.
“We are so thankful for everyone’s support and prayers,” Givargiznia said. “It has meant so much to us.”
The double dose of good news couldn’t have come at a more needed time for the family. Since Givargiznia had to leave his job to be with his son, the bills have been piling up and now they’re facing having services turned off and are struggling to stay in their home.
“I just don’t know what to do,” Givargiznia said. “It’s like we are in a gridlock. I have a job waiting for me that I can go back to once he gets through this, but we have to find a way to get through the next couple of months. I’ve been able to be by his side for so long, I can’t abandon him now.”
Anyone wanting to make a donation to Dylan and the Givargiznia family can do so at any Farmer’s and Merchant Bank. The bank has a trust fund account under Dylan Givargiznia’s name. The Assyrian National Council is also accepting donations for the family and they can be reached through Carmen Morad at 681-7433.
To contact Sabra Stafford, e-mail sstafford@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2002.
“We are extremely, extremely excited and thankful,” said Dylan’s dad, Arnet Givargiznia.
Dylan had returned to a Bay Area hospital earlier this summer for another round of treatment. His doctors had ordered heavy doses of chemotherapy to try and get the cancer into remission, so he would be able to receive a bone marrow transplant should a donor be found. Without a bone marrow transplant, Dylan’s chance of a recovery were slim his dad said.
“It was such a surprise,” Givargiznia said. “He was getting these heavy doses of chemo, but nothing was changing. Then all of a sudden the lab results came back Monday and showed that he was in remission.”
The Givargiznia family won’t know the identity of the donor until a year has passed, but Arnet did know the bone marrow is coming from a 23-year-old man in the United States.
“He’s a 10 out of a 10 match,” Givargiznia said. “That’s the best of the best.”
The bone marrow registry even found a back-up donor just in case.
Dylan’s surgery is set for Sept. 7.
In June, BloodSource and the national bone marrow registry held a drive in Turlock in Dylan’s name and registered 131 new donors.
“We are so thankful for everyone’s support and prayers,” Givargiznia said. “It has meant so much to us.”
The double dose of good news couldn’t have come at a more needed time for the family. Since Givargiznia had to leave his job to be with his son, the bills have been piling up and now they’re facing having services turned off and are struggling to stay in their home.
“I just don’t know what to do,” Givargiznia said. “It’s like we are in a gridlock. I have a job waiting for me that I can go back to once he gets through this, but we have to find a way to get through the next couple of months. I’ve been able to be by his side for so long, I can’t abandon him now.”
Anyone wanting to make a donation to Dylan and the Givargiznia family can do so at any Farmer’s and Merchant Bank. The bank has a trust fund account under Dylan Givargiznia’s name. The Assyrian National Council is also accepting donations for the family and they can be reached through Carmen Morad at 681-7433.
To contact Sabra Stafford, e-mail sstafford@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2002.
