While the Fish family was staying in the Immuno Compromised unit at Primary Children’s for a few months, their adjacent rooms had signs that read, “Big Fish” and “Little Fish.” Natalie, aka “Big Fish”, and Alice, aka “Little Fish” are from Pleasant Grove, Utah.

The girls are fighting a serious medical condition called Leaky Severe Combined Immune Deficiency (SCID). Children with Leaky SCID lack virtually all immune protection against bacteria, viruses, and fungi. They are prone to repeated and persistent infections that would not affect children with normal immune systems. In someone with Leaky SCID, these infections can be very serious and life-threatening.

Leaky SCID is only diagnosed two times a year in the United States. Imagine that statistic being the two children in your family. Natalie, age eight, and Alice, age two, were both cared for at Primary Children’s. They received radiation and chemotherapy to prepare for bone marrow transplants that will hopefully give them a new chance at life!

Throughout most of their young lives, Natalie and Alice have spent a great deal of time in and out of the hospital with different viruses and infections. At one point Natalie was even diagnosed with the H1N1 virus which sent her to the hospital for a near death encounter. “It was very difficult to diagnose the girls because their bodies were producing just enough T cells and B cells to make it look like they had immune systems,” says Lisy, their mother.

After many years of battling viruses and diseases they were finally diagnosed in October of 2011 and told that the treatment necessary for a new chance at life was a bone marrow transplant. Each of the girls would need to find a “perfect match” in order for the miracle to take place. Their siblings, Blair, Matthew, and Evie were all tested to see if they were a match. Blair, Natalie’s four-year-old little brother ended up being a perfect match for her. “My blood is Natalie’s medicine,” he says proudly.

“We were not able to find a perfect match for Alice in our family, so we went to the donor registry list,” says Lisy, “Where we quickly found a perfect match for Alice.” She was a young girl and we were so grateful. We will not be able to meet her until after a year’s time, but we cannot wait to show her our love and gratitude for this gift of life that she has given our child.”

Natalie completed a successful transplant just a few weeks ago and is now at home for an extended period of isolation and a healthy dose of medications. Alice’s “bone marrow birthday” was on Tuesday, January 24^th and she is now waiting to see how the marrow is accepted. There is a 90% success rate for this type of bone marrow transplant and the Fishes are hopeful that these bone marrow transplants will give their daughters better health.

Story Lines is a feature on Play Ground telling the personal stories and experiences of people cared for at the hospital. If you would like to share your experience on the blog, please contact us.