Health Watch

Thursday, November 3, 2005

Jerry Gomez has Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. On August 24, 1998, doctors diagnosed the 44-year-old with the disease just months after he and his wife, Carol, welcomed their newborn triplets into the world. The diagnosis marked the beginning of a seven-year fight to save Jerry Gomez's life.

Since his diagnosis, Gomez has undergone countless rounds of chemotherapy, taken part in clinical trials, and tried experimental medications. One medication, Bexxar, put him in remission for two years. But, the cancer came back.

In October of 2004 doctors told Gomez that the only chance to cure his cancer was to find a stem cell or bone marrow donor. They said if he didn't find a donor and undergo a stem cell transplant he would have a life expectancy no greater than two years.

Members of the Gomez family were all tested to see if they were a match. The tests revealed that no one in Gomez's family was a match, so the family had to find one from the National Bone Marrow Donor Registry. This proved to be quite a challenge for Jerry because of his ethnicity.

"The antigens in my blood are a little more complicated," said Gomez. "Apparently, it needs someone out there that is a Latin, European and possibly American Indian."

There are about 5.5 million people on the donor registry, but less than a third are minorities. This made finding a match for Gomez even more difficult.

Carol Gomez organized several blood and bone marrow drives to get more people, especially minorities, added to the donor registry. Meanwhile, Jerry's health deteriorated. Tumors associated with the cancer were getting bigger and affecting his kidney function.

In March, doctors found Gomez had developed a secondary cancer, making it even more urgent that he find a stem cell or bone marrow donor as soon as possible.

Jerry and Carol Gomez hold a press conference announcing they've found a bone marrow donor.

A donor with American Indian ancestry was located in June and the Gomez family was elated. They began making arrangements for the transplant. Gomez flew to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle in July to undergo his transplant.

Doctors say the transplant was a success, but Gomez is struggling with post-transplant complications. He hopes to be released from the hospital in time to return home for the holidays.

Click here to visit the Gomez family web site and get a detailed account of Jerry's story and the latest update on his condition.