Health
Pennsylvania mom seeks ‘perfect match’ bone marrow donor to cure daughter’s rare disorder: ‘Crucial need’
A 10-year-old girl in Pennsylvania is in dire need of a bone marrow transplant — and her mother is on a mission to find the perfect match.
Lani Walter suffers from a disease called DOCK8 deficiency (dedicator of cytokinesis 8 deficiency), an immunodeficiency syndrome that can cause recurrent, life-threatening infections.
DOCK8 is very rare, with only 250 people worldwide currently diagnosed, statistics show. The only cure for DOCK8 is a bone marrow transplant — also known as a hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT).
YOUNG GIRL SURVIVES CANCER THANKS TO LITTLE SISTER’S LIFESAVING DONATION: ‘A PERFECT MATCH’
Ashleigh Walter, a kindergarten teacher, is pleading for people to join the bone marrow/blood stem cell registry to help her daughter find a donor by summer.
“Time is of the essence,” she told Fox News Digital.
Search for answers
Walter’s daughter was diagnosed with DOCK8 when she was 7½ years old, the culmination of a long series of symptoms and illnesses.
Lani Walter, 10, is in dire need of a bone marrow transplant — and her mother is on a desperate mission to find the perfect match. (Ashleigh Walter)
“Lani’s health issues started at just a couple of months old,” Walter told Fox News Digital during an interview. “As a baby, she had full-body eczema from head to toe and continuous ear infections.”
At 11 months old, she was diagnosed with severe allergies to eggs, milk, peanuts, tree nuts and many other foods. She’s also experienced continuous skin infections and staph infections.
In Jan. 2021, the family was invited to a clinic at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), where Walter’s daughter was able to see specialists from immunology, allergy and dermatology together in one appointment.
NEW JERSEY WOMAN RECOVERING AFTER RECEIVING SUCCESSFUL PIG KIDNEY TRANSPLANT
“They all came together to try and figure out what might be going on,” Walter said. “Each of the specialties ran their own special bloodwork to see what was going on with Lani.”
The results showed some abnormalities in the immune system, and doctors recommended doing genetic testing.
Lani Walter, pictured, has suffered from health issues since birth. She was diagnosed with a DOCK8 deficiency when she was 7 years old. The only known cure is a bone marrow transplant. (Ashleigh Walter)
A few months later, the family received the news that Walter’s daughter has two variants of the DOCK8 gene.
“If you have issues on both sides of the gene, that’s when you present with the disorder,” Walter said. “Testing showed that both my husband and I are recessive carriers to the DOCK8 variant, which we passed down to Lani.”
She added, “So that was when we found out that all of the health issues Lani has experienced throughout her entire life were not unrelated.”
“All of the health issues Lani has experienced throughout her entire life were not unrelated.”
Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, was not involved in Lani Walter’s care but commented on the condition.
“DOCK 8 is a rare immune condition where the bone marrow doesn’t make enough immune cells and the immune cells that are made have trouble penetrating into dense tissue, like skin,” he told Fox News Digital.
After the diagnosis, Walter’s daughter was invited to visit the National Institute of Health in Maryland, where researchers are studying DOCK8 deficiency.
Lani Walter, left, is pictured with her mother, older sister and father. If she does not find a 100% perfect bone marrow match, her mom, Ashleigh Walter, who is a 50% match, will donate. (Ashleigh Walter)
“We go there about every six months to see how Lani is doing, and what they recommend as she gets older,” Walter said.
The symptoms of DOCK8 deficiency tend to get more severe as the child grows into late adolescence and early adulthood, doctors have said.
Some of the biggest concerns are respiratory difficulties and a higher risk of various cancers, along with the ongoing risk of infections.
FOUR TEXAS RESIDENTS FOREVER CONNECTED BY TWO KIDNEY DONATIONS IN DIFFERENT CITIES: ‘SUPERBLY TIMED’
To help manage her condition, Walter’s daughter has been getting weekly intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) infusions, which add human antibodies to help fight off infections.
She also takes daily antibiotics to help prevent pneumonia, uses an inhaler to help her respiratory system and takes other medications to treat different illnesses she experiences as a result of her DOCK8 deficiency.
Lani Walter’s hobbies include swimming, crafting, bike-riding, and spending time with her friends and pets. (Ashleigh Walter)
“That’s probably one of the least favorite parts of her day, when I tell her that she needs to take her medicine,” Walter said.
Since the only cure for her condition is a bone marrow transplant, “her doctors recommend that Lani has [the] transplant to help cure the DOCK8 before she gets older.”
What to know about bone marrow transplants
Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurologist and longevity expert at Senolytix, described HSCT as a “transformative reset button” for patients suffering from DOCK8 deficiency.
Osborn is not involved in Lani Walter’s care.
“Imagine your immune system as a computer plagued by a virus,” he told Fox News Digital.
“HSCT can mean a dramatic shift toward immunologic normalcy, providing a new lease on life.”
“HSCT removes the compromised ‘software’ and installs new, functional cells. For individuals with DOCK8 deficiency — who typically face frequent infections, severe allergies and increased cancer risk — HSCT can mean a dramatic shift toward immunologic normalcy, providing a new lease on life.”
Siegel also emphasized the procedure’s importance, calling it a “crucial life-saving procedure.”
Dr. Marc Siegel, left, and Dr. Brett Osborn, right, both weighed in on the importance of a diverse bone marrow registry. (Dr. Marc Siegel/Dr. Brett Osborn)
The average wait for a transplant is about three months, according to Siegel.
“They are very expensive — about $190,000,” he said. “Insurance generally covers the procedure, but not the cost of finding a donor.”
There is around a 25% chance that a sibling will be a match. In Lani Walter’s case, her 14-year-old sister was not a match.
PENNSYLVANIA MOTHER AND SON BOTH BORN WITH RARE GENETIC DISEASE: ‘CLOSER BECAUSE OF THIS’
“The overall chance of finding a match in the world is 1/3 to 2/3,” Siegel said.
The National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) maintains a registry of people who are willing to donate. The Walter family found a 90% match on the registry, but the optimal situation would be to find a 100% match.
“There’s much less risk with the bone marrow transplant if you can find that perfect match,” Walter told Fox News Digital.
‘Time is of the essence’
Lani Walter’s doctors recommend that she receives the donation before she starts middle school. Next year, she will start fifth grade.
“Ideally, we would do it before Lani sees significant issues with other organs in her body,” said Ashleigh Walter.
“Joining the bone marrow registry could be your most profound gift.”
If the family does not find a perfect match, Walter said she will donate to her daughter, as parents are always half-matches.
“Obviously, we would still love for her to be able to find a full match on the donor registry, which is much less of a risk,” she said. “But if that’s not possible, we can move forward with a half match.”
Lani Walter’s doctors are recommending she receive the bone marrow donation before she starts middle school. Next year, she will start fifth grade. (Ashleigh Walter)
With partial matches, there is a higher risk of “graft versus host disease,” which is a complication that occurs when donor bone marrow or stem cells attack the recipient.
“It can cause different issues throughout the body, similar to an organ transplant rejection,” Walter said.
If her daughter receives a successful bone marrow transplant, Walter said — she will be cured of DOCK8.
PENNSYLVANIA PARENTS HONOR THEIR DAUGHTER WHO DIED OF A RARE GENETIC DISEASE: ‘SWEETEST GIRL IN THE WORLD’
“She won’t have an immune deficiency anymore,” she said. “She’ll adopt the immune system of the donor, and we won’t have to worry about any of those increased risks at all.”
Walter is hopeful that her daughter — whom she describes as “a little kid at heart” — will soon be healthy and able to return to the activities she loves, including swimming.
If her daughter receives a successful bone marrow transplant, Ashleigh Walter said, she will be cured of DOCK8. Walter is hopeful that her daughter will soon be healthy and able to return to the activities she loves (Ashleigh Walter)
“Lani has been on a swim team since kindergarten, and this will be her first summer not doing it,” Walter said.
She also enjoys bike-riding, crafting, and spending time with her friends and pets.
A call to register
There are millions of potential donors on the bone marrow registry — with more than 300,000 Americans joining just last year — but Walter noted that the likelihood of someone finding a perfect match is very low.
“The more people who join the registry, the more likely that a perfect match will be there for you,” she said.
THE GIRL WHO CAN’T SMILE: HOW A RARE DISORDER BECAME A YOUNG WOMAN’S ‘GREATEST GIFT’
As a neurosurgical trauma surgeon, Osborn of Florida said he can attest to the dire need for blood and bone marrow donors.
“There is a critical shortage of both,” he said. “In emergency and surgical settings, the availability of blood products can be the difference between life and death.”
People can join the bone marrow registry by visiting the NMDP’s website to order a test kit. “It’s a really simple cheek swab kit that they’ll send to your house and then you send it back,” Walter said. (iStock)
It’s “vital” to have diversity in the bone marrow registry, Osborn noted.
“A closely matched donor reduces complications and improves outcomes,” he said.
“This emphasizes why everyone should consider joining the registry. We can all manufacture these potentially life-saving blood products, and by donating, we fulfill a crucial societal need.”
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
While some have the misconception that donation is difficult, Osborn said that’s not the case.
“Donating bone marrow is a low-risk, outpatient procedure associated with only minor discomfort. It’s a great way to pay it forward.”
“In emergency and surgical settings, the availability of blood products can be the difference between life and death.”
People can join the bone marrow registry by visiting the NMDP’s website to order a test kit.
“It’s a really simple cheek swab kit that they’ll send to your house and then you send it back,” Walter said. “You don’t have to pay any money for anything.”
“The more people that join, the more people who can find their perfect match.”
“For conditions like DOCK8 deficiency, a bone marrow transplant can offer a chance at a healthier life,” Osborn added.
“Joining the bone marrow registry could be your most profound gift, potentially saving a life with your healthy cells.”
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Research conducted partly aboard the International Space Station (ISS) suggests that “microgravity” could help scientists fight drug-resistant superbugs, according to a report from SWNS.
Microgravity is the condition in which people or objects appear to be weightless, NASA states.
Experiments by researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison show that viruses and bacteria behave differently in near-weightless conditions. In space, they develop genetic changes not typically seen on Earth.
DEADLY ‘SUPERBUG’ IS SPREADING ACROSS US AS DRUG RESISTANCE GROWS, RESEARCHERS WARN
Lead study author Dr. Phil Huss, a researcher at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, noted that interactions between viruses that infect bacteria — known as phages — and their hosts play an “integral” role in how microbial ecosystems function, per the SWSN report.
Viruses that infect bacteria were still able to infect E. coli in space. However, the way those infections unfolded was different from what is typically observed on Earth.
E. coli is a group of bacteria that can live in the gut and are harmless most of the time, according to Cleveland Clinic. (iStock)
Bacteria and phages are often described as being locked in an evolutionary arms race, Huss said, with each side constantly adapting to outmaneuver the other.
“Microgravity is not just a slower or noisier version of Earth — it is a distinct physical and evolutionary environment,” researcher Srivatsan Raman, Ph.D., professor of biochemistry at the university, told Fox News Digital.
“Even in a very simple phage-bacteria system, microgravity altered infection dynamics and pushed both organisms down different evolutionary paths,” he added.
CONTAMINATED MEAT BLAMED FOR RISE IN COMMON URINARY INFECTIONS, EXPERTS WARN
While these interactions between bacteria and phages have been well-studied on Earth, few studies have examined them in space, where they can lead to different outcomes.
For the study, Huss and his colleagues compared two sets of E. coli samples infected with a phage known as T7. One set was incubated on Earth, while the other was grown aboard the ISS.
The ISS is a microgravity environment — where people and objects appear weightless. (NASA / SWNS)
The team found that after an initial slowdown, the T7 phage successfully infected E. coli in space. Genetic analysis later revealed clear differences in how both the bacteria and the virus mutated in space compared with how they behaved on Earth, per the report.
Huss said the phages grown aboard the space station developed mutations that could improve their ability to infect bacteria or attach to bacterial cells. At the same time, the E. coli grown in space developed mutations that could help them resist infection and survive better in near-weightless conditions.
GROWING ANTIBIOTIC CRISIS COULD TURN BACTERIAL INFECTIONS DEADLY, EXPERTS WARN
Raman said some of the findings were unexpected. In particular, he noted, microgravity led to mutations in parts of the phage genome that are not well-understood and are rarely seen in Earth-based experiments.
The E. coli grown in space developed mutations that could help them resist infection and survive better in near-weightless conditions. (iStock)
Researchers then used a technique called deep mutational scanning — a method that tracks how genetic changes affect function — to examine changes in the T7 receptor-binding protein, which plays a key role in infection.
Additional experiments on Earth linked those changes to increased effectiveness against E. coli strains that are normally resistant to T7.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
“Equally surprising was that phages shaped by microgravity could be more effective against terrestrial bacterial pathogens when brought back to Earth,” Raman told Fox News Digital.
“That result suggests microgravity can reveal combinations of mutations that are difficult to access through standard laboratory evolution, but [are] still highly relevant for real-world applications.”
“Microgravity is not just a slower or noisier version of Earth — it is a distinct physical and evolutionary environment.”
Huss said the findings could help address antibiotic-resistant infections, including urinary tract infections, which have been increasing in recent years.
“By studying those space-driven adaptations, we identified new biological insights that allowed us to engineer phages with far superior activity against drug-resistant pathogens back on Earth,” Huss told SWNS.
Study limitations
“Experiments on the ISS are constrained by small sample sizes, fixed hardware and scheduling constraints,” Raman noted. “Samples also experience freezing and long storage times, which can complicate interpretation.”
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
He added that the research has broader implications.
“Studying microbes in space isn’t just about space biology,” Raman said. “These experiments can uncover new aspects of viral infection and microbial evolution that feed directly back into terrestrial problems, including antimicrobial resistance and phage therapy.”
Space should be treated as a discovery environment rather than a routine testing platform, one researcher said. (iStock)
He added that space should be treated as a discovery environment rather than a routine testing platform. The most effective approach, according to Raman, is to identify useful patterns and mutations in space and then study them carefully in Earth-based systems.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
Scientists also noted that the findings highlight how microbial ecosystems, like those associated with humans, could change during long space missions.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“Understanding and anticipating those changes will be essential as space travel becomes longer, more routine and more biologically complex,” Raman said.
The findings were published in the journal PLOS Biology.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
A simple blood test may detect Crohn’s disease years before symptoms appear, according to a new study reported by SWNS.
Canadian researchers say the discovery could enable earlier diagnosis and potential prevention of the chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
The test measures the immune system’s response to flagellin, a protein found in gut bacteria. Researchers found that this response is elevated in some people years before Crohn’s develops.
DOCTOR WARNS OF 2 SIMPLE FOOD MISTAKES THAT INCREASE CHRONIC DISEASE RISK
The findings, published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, highlight the “interplay” between gut bacteria and immune system responses as a key step in the disease’s development, per the SWNS report.
Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract that causes persistent digestive symptoms, pain and fatigue, significantly affecting quality of life. Its incidence among children has doubled since 1995, according to official figures.
Crohn’s disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes swelling and irritation of the tissues, called inflammation, in the digestive tract. (iStock)
The presence of flagellin antibodies long before symptoms appear suggests that the immune reaction may help trigger the disease, according to research leader Dr. Ken Croitoru, clinician-scientist and professor of medicine and immunology at the University of Toronto.
A better understanding of this early process could lead to improved prediction, prevention and treatment, the expert said.
“We haven’t cured anybody yet, and we need to do better.”
“With all the advanced biologic therapy we have today, patients’ responses are partial at best,” Croitoru told SWNS. “We haven’t cured anybody yet, and we need to do better.”
MISUNDERSTOOD ILLNESS LEAVES MILLIONS EXHAUSTED, WITH MOST CASES UNDIAGNOSED
“We wanted to know: Do people who are at risk, who are healthy now, have these antibodies against flagellin?” he said. “We looked, we measured, and yes indeed, at least some of them did.”
This new research is part of the Genetic, Environmental and Microbial (GEM) Project, which has followed more than 5,000 healthy first-degree relatives of people with Crohn’s disease worldwide since 2008. The project collects genetic, biological and environmental data to better understand how the disease develops.
The presence of flagellin antibodies long before symptoms appear suggests that the immune reaction may help trigger the disease, according to the lead researcher. (iStock)
The study followed 381 first-degree relatives of Crohn’s patients, 77 of whom later developed the disease. Of those, more than 30% had elevated antibody responses.
The responses were strongest in siblings, underscoring the role of shared environmental exposure, researchers said.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
So far, 130 of the study participants have developed Crohn’s, giving researchers a rare opportunity to study its earliest stages. The average time from blood sample collection to diagnosis was nearly 2-½ years.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
Previous GEM research showed that an inflammatory immune response targeting gut bacteria can appear long before the disease develops.
The study followed 381 first-degree relatives of Crohn’s patients, 77 of whom later developed the disease. (iStock)
In healthy people, gut bacteria coexist peacefully and play an essential role in digestive health — but in Crohn’s patients, the immune system appears to mount an abnormal response against the microbes, experts say.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
The Canadian team also confirmed that this pre-disease immune response was associated with intestinal inflammation and gut barrier dysfunction, both hallmarks of Crohn’s disease.
The study did have some limitations, including that it did not include experiments to show exactly how the immune response might lead to Crohn’s disease. (iStock)
Research team member Dr. Sun-Ho Lee, a gastroenterologist, commented that this new study supports the idea of designing a flagellin-directed vaccine for certain high-risk individuals to prevent the disease, according to SWNS.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
The study did have some limitations, including that it did not include experiments to show exactly how the immune response might lead to Crohn’s disease.
As a result, the researchers could not determine the biological steps linking the immune reaction to the onset of the illness. “Further validation and mechanistic studies are underway,” they noted.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
A new study suggests that exercise can treat depression just as effectively as therapy and antidepressants.
A Cochrane review looked at 73 randomized controlled trials involving nearly 5,000 adults with a depression diagnosis. The studies compared exercise with either other active treatments — such as therapy or medication — or with “inactive interventions,” like being placed on a wait list or in a control group.
The London-based team discovered that exercise may be “moderately effective” compared to no therapy in reducing depression symptoms, according to a press release.
EXERCISE AFFECTS THE HEART IN A HIDDEN, POWERFUL WAY BY REWIRING NERVES, STUDY FINDS
“There is probably little to no difference in depressive symptoms between people undertaking exercise and those receiving psychological therapy,” the authors noted in a study discussion on Cochrane’s website, and “there may be little to no difference in depressive symptoms between people doing exercise and those taking antidepressants.”
The analysis discovered that exercise may be “moderately effective” compared to no therapy in reducing depression symptoms. (iStock)
The review found that light- to moderate-intensity exercise was more beneficial for easing depression symptoms than vigorous exercise.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
No single type of physical activity stood out as the best, but mixed programs that included resistance training appeared to be “more effective” than just aerobic exercise.
Some forms of exercise, like yoga and stretching, were not included in the analysis, but are areas to be further researched, the review noted.
Mixed exercise programs and resistance training appeared to be “more effective” in easing depression symptoms than just aerobic exercise. (iStock)
Professor Andrew Clegg, lead author of the review, wrote in a statement that exercise “appears to be a safe and accessible option for helping to manage symptoms of depression.”
“This suggests that exercise works well for some people, but not for everyone, and finding approaches that individuals are willing and able to maintain is important,” he said.
Study limitations and risks
The researchers noted that there was a high risk of bias in some of the studies included in the review, and noted that the long-term effects of exercise on depression symptoms remain uncertain.
COMMON SPICE MAY BEAT DEPRESSION AND BOOST SEXUAL HEALTH, DOCTOR SAYS
Clegg noted that “larger, high-quality studies” are needed to determine which types of exercise work best and whether the benefits last over time.
The comparison between exercise and other treatments and how they benefit people’s quality of life were also “inconsistent and uncertain.”
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
“Adverse events from exercise were not common,” the researchers mentioned. “The small number of participants who experienced them usually reported muscle and joint problems or worsening of depression.”
About 21 million U.S. adults had at least one major depressive episode in a recent year — equivalent to roughly 8.3% of all U.S. adults, according to the National Institutes of Health. (iStock)
“Future research should focus on improving the quality of the studies, working out which characteristics of exercise are effective for different people, and ensuring different types of people are included in the studies so that health equity issues can be considered,” they went on.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
About 21 million U.S. adults had at least one major depressive episode in a recent year — equivalent to roughly 8.3% of all U.S. adults, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
Depression symptoms include feelings of sadness, hopelessness, anxiety, guilt or irritability, as well as loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities. Fatigue, poor concentration, sleep disturbances, appetite changes and social withdrawal are also red flags, in addition to thoughts about dying or suicidal ideations.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
The condition is most often treated by antidepressant medications and psychological therapies, such as talk therapy. Anyone who needs help should consult their doctor.
Movie Review: Jodie Foster shines as a psychoanalyst on the edge in ‘A Private Life’
Video: What are Trump’s Options in Iran?
MLK concert held annually at the Kennedy Center for 23 years is relocating
BMW says electric M3 will be a ‘new level’ of performance
Nigeria named epicenter of global killings of Christians over faith in 2025, report says
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Video: ‘It Didn’t Have to Happen This Way:’ U.Va. Faculty Call for Review of Police Response to Protests
Republicans light cigars, cigarettes on burning photos of Khamenei to show support for Iranian protesters
EU Parliament questions defence loan’s ‘€17 billion gift’ to Hungary
Trump administration sends letter wiping out addiction, mental health grants
Video: Clashes With Federal Agents in Minneapolis Escalate
Venezuela releases multiple American citizens from prison following military operation
-
Montana4 days agoService door of Crans-Montana bar where 40 died in fire was locked from inside, owner says
-
Technology1 week agoPower bank feature creep is out of control
-
Delaware5 days agoMERR responds to dead humpback whale washed up near Bethany Beach
-
Dallas, TX6 days agoAnti-ICE protest outside Dallas City Hall follows deadly shooting in Minneapolis
-
Dallas, TX1 week agoDefensive coordinator candidates who could improve Cowboys’ brutal secondary in 2026
-
Virginia4 days agoVirginia Tech gains commitment from ACC transfer QB
-
Iowa1 week agoPat McAfee praises Audi Crooks, plays hype song for Iowa State star
-
Education1 week agoVideo: This Organizer Reclaims Counter Space