Tami Brundage, a 27-year-old Holt adoptee from Korea, was recently diagnosed as having acute myelogenous leukemia. Tami’s best hope for survival is to find a matching bone marrow donor. The closest match would be a birth sibling, but Tami was adopted at 8 months old, and her history file says that she was “abandoned.” Her next best hope for a match is another Korean person.

   We at Holt hope that people everywhere will consider being tested to see if they might be a match for Tami. The process is quite simple. After a quick blood test, your tissue type would be added to a national registry to see if you are a match for Tami or any other person waiting for a marrow donor. The cost of the test is $40. The cost is waived for minorities. For further information about the test and bone marrow donation, contact The National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) at (800) 627-7692, or see their web site www.marrow.org. Holt also has a list of regional test centers.

   Doctors thought her early symptoms were associated with the pregnancy, but as her condition worsened, tests revealed that she has leukemia. Devin and Tami made the courageous decision to proceed with the pregnancy and fight the leukemia.

   On November 19 Tami Brundage successfully gave birth to 4lb. 14 oz Breaden! He is doing well and will be discharged from NICU in time to spend Thanksgiving with his mom and dad. According to his grandmother "he smiles easily, cries seldom and loves to be snuggled." In a month he will return to have the tumor under his right arm removed.

   Tami has been moved to the 7th floor of the University of Nebraska Medical Center where she is again undergoing chemotherapy. She is experiencing a lot of pain as a result of her cancer treatment and birth of Breaden -- head ache, back pain, nausea.

   At the end of this week the chemotherapy will stop and Tami will wait as she gains strength for the next round of treatments. Tami is in need of a bone marrow transplant very soon. Would you join us in prayer that a donor will be found soon?

   Tami’s courage and honesty are evident in a recent letter: “The journey has been long already. I am very tired and scared. God is my outlet for my despair. Devin is my support, salvation and strength. His patience, love and understanding are never ending. Without God and Devin, I would not be able to endure the pain and fear. I need to live long enough to repay him for all he has done and to help him raise Breaden.”

   We at Holt hope you will consider being tested for Tami.