Medical Beat

Friday, June 17, 2005

Local Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma patient receives life-saving news.

The best news in the world for a local man fighting one of the deadliest diseeases anyone can face. The disease is called Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. It is a form of cancer, a disease of the body's cells. The cells grow abnormally and may continue to grow out of control, forming too much tissue, a tumor.

Now with that explained, the man with Non-Hodgkin's is Tampa resident Jerry Gomez. We first brought you his story many years ago when he publicly went in search of a bone marrow donor match. Recently, he has teamed up with the Katia Solomon Foundation, a local group with a mission of educating people about bone marrow donations.

This week, Scott Ulm, the President of the Katia Solomon Foundation, said, "We were able to get the community on its feet and somehow somewhere a match came for Jerry."

"This is such a pleaseure and an incredible miracle that occurred. We're just so thankful. We're thrilled, overjoyed with all the effort that everyone has made," said Jerry Gomez.

Gomez said his transplant will take place in Seattle the week of July 4 after doctors are sure he is in total remission. He is getting there now with the help of blood infusions and chemotherapy,

Click here to read another recent Bay News 9 Jerry Gomez-related story.

New drug to treat sinus isses and more.

A new prescription drug out to help the millions of you with sinusitis and pneumonia.

It's called Zmax. The drug is the only single-dose liquid antibiotic treatment for certain types of mild to moderate forms of both conditions.