Optimism Is This 14 Year-Old’s Watchword

Young Patient Raising Awareness About Need for Bone Marrow Donors

BOSTON, MASS.  (WINTER 2015)  — “Becca is one of the most extraordinary and bravest patients I can remember in my 40 years of practice,” says Dr. Robert Chavez, “so it’s not surprising that our ARCH Orthodontics staff nominated her as our Patient of the Quarter.”

Fourteen year-old high-school freshman Becca Hudson (at left in photo with sister Jordon), who lives in Provincetown with her parents and two sisters, got her braces at ARCH’s Orleans (Cape Cod) office. “I was excited because I always wanted my teeth to be straighter. A lot of my friends have braces and my little sister, Jordon, used to tease me saying I had a ‘crunked-up grille’ — a very good description of my smile. My mom said I had to wait until I was old enough and took good enough care of my teeth before I could get braces.” And finally she did get them. At the time Mom said, “Becca is probably the most enthusiastic patient ARCH has ever had.  No little girl has ever been as excited as she was to get her braces on!”

But on Labor Day, 2014, following what was supposed to be routine blood work, doctors at Boston Children’s Hospital wanted to admit Becca immediately for a bone marrow biopsy.  Since that day, the family has been caught in a whirlwind of diagnostic testing and preparation for a bone marrow transplant (stem cell) to treat her rare form of blood cancer — a genetic disorder (dyskeratosis congenita) which causes her bone marrow to fail to produce the necessary blood cells (aplastic anemia with myelodysplastic syndrome). The transplant is scheduled for January. Becca’s treating Orthodontist Dr. Nicholas Barone noted that ARCH had to remove her braces before the full course of treatment was completed.

Until her diagnosis and subsequent safety restrictions, Becca was an avid cheerleader, basketball and soccer player and small boat sailor. Nicknamed ‘Sweet B,’ she was well-known around town for her infectious smile, bubbly personality and regular volunteer work.  Upon learning about the need for a transplant, Becca determined that she would “help the world be a better place” by finding 20,000 people to join the BeTheMatch Donor Registry.  (Learn more about Becca and register for the BeTheMatch Registry on her website at www.Bows4Becca.com.)

While Becca undergoes the transplant, mom Lee plans to stay in the hospital while Becca’s step-father and the girls’ dad remain in Provincetown to care for her sisters.  A few months after the transplant, Becca will be discharged to a Boston apartment to recover with daily monitoring by her medical team.  Lee says, “Optimistically, within 6 months Becca will be well enough to go home – then return to normal activities within a year.”

It will be a long and costly period. For anyone wishing to help the family meet transportation costs to and from Boston plus expenses to help the Hudsons maintain a healthy, fulfilling lifestyle for Becca and her sisters, donations can be made via the crowdfunding website  https://www.youcaring.com/help-a-neighbor/becca-her-family-need-your-help-/271411/donate?utm_source=widget#pp

Lee Hudson says, “Becca is anxiously awaiting the day she can get her braces back on to finish up.” Becca says, “I love everyone at ARCH. They’re all so nice and I can’t wait see them again after I recover from my bone marrow transplant.”

“We encourage everyone to do what they can to help Becca and her family through this trying time,” Dr. Chase and Dr. Chavez said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with you,” (ARCH Orthodontics operates 9 offices including Orleans and Hyannis on Cape Cod. Visit http://www.sesameblogs.com/archorthodontics)

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