n October 30, 2003 Tanner Boardman Gilbert weighed into the world at 9 pounds 2 ounces. But the world weighed against him. Less than eight months later, June 25, 2004, he was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma. This cancer accounts for half of all malignancies in infants in the United States each year. The cause is unknown.

One facet of Tanner's treatment is high-dose chemotherapy to eradicate the cancer. These strong doses are often too high to allow bone marrow cells to fully recover after such treatment. So, we collect his stem cells and keep them for him while he undergoes chemotherapy. Then, we re-infuse them so they can get back to work making blood. This is called autologous stem cell transplantation. Our additional job is to keep extra platelets on hand for when he needs them. That's where OBI donors do their part ... and where you can help Tanner and other babies like him now and in the future.

Tanner is the son of Heidi and Charles Gilbert and the brother of 3-year old sister Aleksa who live in Edmond. Heidi is the Accounting Manager at Bob Moore Saturn and has been with them for 8 years. Heidi donates red blood cells at least once a year at the Bob Moore Saturn-sponsored OBI blood drives. Her dad has been a donor of red blood cells, plasma and platelets in New York for 29 years ever since his wife's niece had leukemia. While in Oklahoma, he's been donating at OBI to ensure blood products are readily available for Tanner.

All Tanner's grandparents, Jutta and George Sorkel and Ann Gilbert, live in New York but they've spent a lot of time in Oklahoma this year so Heidi and her husband could keep working. This whole time has been a blur but our jobs have been good to us and Tanner is really surprising a lot of doctors on his progress Heidi says. He's starting to walk, wanting to talk, and actually developing well considering everything he's gone through.

We're gratified to have the opportunity to know Tanner and the permission to share his story with you - our OBI supporters and those who participate in the generous Bob Moore Saturn car-give-away blood drives each year. We're happy to support the Gilbert's in their desire to increase awareness ... to encourage parents to go that one step further if they feel something is wrong with their kids. To encourage more and more people to become lifetime blood donors. There's not a lot of awareness for childhood cancers except among the families that are living it. And yet, there are many kinds ... and many kids being lost every day. Like the Gilbert's, we've found it's true. The more people know, the more you can count on them to help.