NBC Nightly News: A 9-Year-Old Son Saves His Father’s Life by Donating Stem Cells
Dozens of media outlets, including NBC Nightly News, ABC 7 and the Los Angeles Times, recently interviewed Cedars-Sinai experts about an unforgettable patient: A 9-year-old boy who donated stem cells to treat his father’s leukemia.
After Nick Mondek, MD, experienced a relapse of acute myeloid leukemia in April, he asked his medical team if his son—a genetic match—could be an eligible stem cell donor.
“As my doctor came in the room, I said, ‘Could a 9-year-old who's 70 pounds give us enough stem cells?’” Mondek said to NBC Nightly News.
Stephen, Mondek’s son, told NBC Nightly News he did not hesitate to say yes.
“I wanted to make my dad's cancer go away, and if I was sick, I would think he would do the same thing for me,” Stephen said.
Nicole Baca, MD, assistant professor of Pediatrics at Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s, told ABC 7 she praised Stephen’s willingness to step in.
“He wanted to help his dad in any way he could,” Baca said.
After weeks of preparation, Stephen was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit and spent six hours donating stem cells.
“Stephen was very brave, and our team made sure everything went perfectly so that this young boy could help his father,” said Hoyoung Chung, DO, a critical care pediatrician at Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s.
Afterward, Mondek underwent six days of chemotherapy before receiving the transplanted stem cells. His medical team said it will take about a year to know whether the transplanted cells can help defeat his leukemia.
In the meantime, Mondek is resuming normal activities, including playing catch with his son.
Watch the entire segments from NBC Nightly News and ABC 7, and read the complete article from the Los Angeles Times.