A donor match in two weeks: the moment a leukemia diagnosis and stem cell transplant turn toward hope and survival.
Sophia Cox was feeling well and living an active life. She worked full time for an international organization, planned her next vacation, and spent time with loved ones. Then an annual physical revealed something unexpected: a low white blood cell count.
“I felt completely normal,” she says. “If I hadn’t gone in for that physical, I would have had no idea anything was wrong.” That single appointment, meant as a check-in, marked the beginning of a difficult chapter and the diagnosis of a life threatening blood cancer.
Years earlier, Sophia had been treated for Rosai Dorfman disease, a rare immune system disorder. So when her blood counts raised concern again, she didn’t delay. She returned to Joseph Roswarski, MD, a medical hematologist oncologist at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. A bone marrow biopsy confirmed acute myeloid leukemia, a cancer that disrupts the body’s ability to make healthy blood cells and fight infection. “Hearing those words was overwhelming,” Sophia says. “I didn’t know what the road ahead would look like, but I knew I was in the right place.”
From that moment on, working closely with her oncology team, Sophia’s care was guided by Jennifer Kanakry, MD, hematologist and medical director of the Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Immunotherapy program at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. It is home to the most experienced adult, FACT-accredited program in the Washington, D.C., region, with more than 10 years of expertise in both allogeneic and autologous transplants. In addition, our program provides access to multiple innovative clinical trials.
Treatment began with chemotherapy, medicine designed to kill cancer cells and clear space in her bone marrow for transplant. “When the first treatment didn’t bring the response hoped for, we moved to a stronger approach. Fortunately, that worked and paved the way for her allogeneic stem cell transplant,” says Dr. Roswarski.
With the leukemia under control, her team focused on what came next: keeping it from coming back. Dr. Kanakry explains, “In an allogeneic transplant, a patient receives blood forming stem cells from a donor. Those cells can build a new immune system that helps protect against the cancer returning. For Sophia, it offered the only potential cure.”
That made finding a donor the critical next step. Compatibility depends on inherited traits, and patients from minority backgrounds are less likely to find a fully matched donor. So when one was identified just two weeks later, it changed everything. While not a perfect match, her team’s experience with mismatched donor transplants helped her get the treatment she needed. “I saw it as God working,” she says. “Some people wait so long. I felt blessed.”
Soon after, the transplant itself was simple, a quiet IV infusion of donor stem cells, but its meaning was profound. Her care team monitored her closely for engraftment, when donor cells take hold and begin producing new blood and immune cells. “Once it grafted, I knew I was going to be okay,” Sophia says. “That’s when hope really set in.”
Sophia’s care extended beyond chemotherapy and transplant. Her team included cell therapy trained physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, nutritionists, social workers, case managers, rehabilitation therapists, and infectious disease specialists, all working together with a shared goal of supporting her every step of the way. The team also helped her navigate access to important post transplant medications, addressing cost-related barriers so her treatment could continue without interruption. “When I felt scared or missed home, there were so many people there for me,” she says. “They didn’t just treat me. They cared about me as a person.”
Sophia’s post transplant testing shows no signs of leukemia. Her blood counts are normal, she has full donor engraftment, and she has experienced no major transplant related complications. As she continues to regain strength, everyday life has begun to look familiar again. She’s back to exercising. She’s also planning to return to St. Martin, one of her favorite places to travel, and spent time in Jamaica. “I don’t take anything for granted anymore,” she says. “I try to appreciate each day I’m given.”
For more information or for an appointment call 202-993-0492 or visit MedStarHealth.org/StemCell.