Maryland’s Health Matters - BWMC - Winter 2018 - 11

allowed Amari to have a rela-

a working mom, there were

tively normal childhood.

times when I had to leave

As he entered his teen

Amari's side to go into the

years, Amari's heart increas-

office. The layer of comfort

ingly had trouble keeping up

the team provided cannot

with his growth spurts, and

be underestimated."

it began to weaken and fail.

"University of Maryland Children's
Hospital provided excellent care for
Amari. They were amazingly
supportive from start to finish."
-Juaquinna Hall, Amari's mom

Now back at home with
"I have several of the nurses'

A heart transplant was Amari's

a new heart, Amari is figuring

it was cancer. They wanted

only option for survival.

out his new normal. Along with

Gabbi to have the most

personal cellphone numbers

In December 2016, he

taking 28 medications each day,

comprehensive work-up

in my phone," Miller says. "They

became an inpatient at UMCH

he has frequent follow-up visits

possible, so they transferred

were always excited to care for

and was moved to the top

to see his pediatric cardiolo-

us to UM Children's Hospital."

Gabbi when she would come

of the transplant waiting list.

gist, Carissa Baker-Smith, MD,

Months went by; Amari and

MPH, assistant professor of

met Teresa York, MD, assis-

Miller says the child life

his family spent Christmas

pediatrics at UMSOM and a

tant professor of pediatrics

specialists at UMCH went

and his 15th birthday in the

pediatric cardiologist at UMCH.

at UMSOM and division head

above and beyond to help

hospital. Through it all, he

It's a big-league task for Amari,

of pediatric hematology/

Gabbi feel comfortable

maintained a positive attitude

at a time when most teens

oncology at UMCH. Gabbi's

during her extended stays

and never gave up hope.

have many other things on

parents learned she had

in the hospital. They gave

their minds. But he is up for the

pre-B cell acute lymphoblastic

her kid-friendly books

challenge, and he looks forward

leukemia (ALL).

about chemotherapy and

In March, a donor heart
became available.
"Because of all of Amari's
previous surgeries, his immune
system was in overdrive. We

to becoming a chef some day.

GABBI, 7

It was there the family

ALL is a cancer of the bone

in for chemotherapy."

cancer, supplied toys and

marrow in which dysfunctional

games, connected them to

immune cells (in Gabbi's case,

Make-A-Wish Foundation,

underdeveloped B cells) crowd

and gave the family donated

had to carefully screen the

Cancer Survivor

potential donor heart to avoid

When it comes to getting calls

together in the bone marrow

tickets for events at Royal

rejection," says Sunjay Kaushal,

from the baby sitter, many

and prevent the production of

Farms Arena.

MD, PhD, associate professor

parents abide by the "no news

healthy blood cells.

of surgery at UMSOM and

is good news" mantra. When

Gabbi spent 30 days

with the nurses at UMCH,

director of pediatric and adult

Gabbi Miller was just 3½ years

receiving chemotherapy at

Gabbi wants to follow in

congenital cardiac surgery

old, her mom, Pearson Miller,

the cancer division at UMCH,

her mom's footsteps and

at UMCH, who performed the

got the dreaded call.

which works in partnership

become a nurse when she

with the University of Mary-

grows up.

transplant surgery. "Luckily,

Gabbi's nose wouldn't stop

After her experience

we found a heart that met

bleeding. It had been bleeding

land Marlene and Stewart

all the criteria."

for more than an hour by

Greenebaum Comprehensive

the time her mother rushed

Cancer Center to provide

Type 1 Diabetes

Amari's care team included

to the sitter's house. She

state-of-the-art, research-

Four days before his sixth

doctors, nurses, therapists,

called an ambulance, which

based care that is tailored

birthday, Ben Roelofs started

pharmacists, social workers

took Gabbi to the emergency

to kids. Although Gabbi was

showing signs that some-

and child life specialists.

room at the University of

then declared in remission,

thing was wrong: He was

Maryland Baltimore Washing-

she needed to continue

increasingly thirsty and was

ton Medical Center.

chemotherapy for the next

urinating much more than

The transplant was a success.

"University of Maryland
Children's Hospital provided

BEN, 7

two years, which included

usual. The Roelofs family

were amazingly supportive

says Miller. "The doctors told

regular hospital visits,

has a history of diabetes,

from start to finish," says his

us best-case scenario it was

checkups and occasional

so his parents knew he needed

mom, Juaquinna Hall. "Being

a virus, worst-case scenario

weekend stays in the hospital.

immediate medical attention.

excellent care for Amari. They

"We were totally panicked,"

University of Maryland Children's Hospital, call 410-328-6749.

mybwmc.org | Winter 2018  11
http://www.mybwmc.org
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