True bravery is found in the purest heart with love and care. Even in the face of pain and fear, every person’s heart can rise with incredible strength, willing to endure anything to give someone a chance to live. This selfless act is a potent reminder that hope often shines brightest through the smallest acts and courageous hands and inspires everyone to believe in the sensational power of sacrifice and love.
Robin Pownall and her fiancé are amazing parents of four boys: Dominick, who is 9 years old, Michael, who is four, and the twins Santino and Giovanni. The twins were born prematurely at 33 weeks on October 14, 2017, and spent five weeks in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). This kind of blessing gives every parent a different sort of happiness.
Their joy was short-lived, as only ten days later, both were diagnosed with Chronic Granulomatous Disease (CGD), which is a rare immune disorder that leaves those affected unable to fight certain infections. Santino was soon to be hospitalized with a wound infection, and his parents have been staying at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) ever since. But there was a thing that their kids were full of strength; if there were a hurdle, then there would be a possible solution.
The CGD wasn’t rare for the family because their older son, Dominick, had also been through this stage in the past, and he was cured through a stem cell transplant at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Fortunately, their middle child, Michael, just 4 years old, was found to be the perfect match for the bone marrow with his little brother, who was recently born.
After this, they told their son Michael about the current situation. He showed remarkable maturity and was a perfect match for the bone marrow. “I’m gonna give them my bone marrow!” he exclaimed hesitantly. At this age, showing this much bravery and caring for his brother is another type of courage. They explained the procedure, which might worsen in this case and involve a large needle.
But Michael bravely said, “Is it going to save them?”. After his parents confirmed it could save them, he replied, “Okay, I’ll do it then!”
The procedure of chemotherapy started to destroy their existing immune systems and prepare their bodies for the marrow transplant. It was scheduled for March 8, 2018, and Michael could watch as his bone marrow was transfused into his younger brother’s. This moment was expected to be deeply emotional for the family.
After that, Robin shared her emotional feelings: “I am so scared and nervous for all of my three boys, but when I look into their eyes, I see strength. I know everything is going to be okay.”
This entire situation was nothing short of heroic for the sake of his siblings. The Pownall family remains hopeful as they navigate this arduous journey together, inspired by their young son’s selfless act of strength, love, and care.
