myelogenous leukemia four years ago. As a Jehovah's Witness, a bone
marrow transplant was ruled out. Originally from San Diego, she moved to
Orange County to seek bloodless treatment for her cancer at Fountain
Valley Regional Hospital and Medical Center.
Hines spent a few years on chemotherapy, but her condition worsened.
After a struggle with life that medical professionals thought she would
lose, her doctor decided she would be a good candidate for the first-ever
stem-cell transplant.
"We were all excited, but we didn't make a hasty decision," Hines said.
Hines completed the transplant in February, and after extensive testing,
her doctor has determined her to be cancer-free.
"I can't believe this all happened," she said. "I stuck to my principles
without compromising, and that made me very happy."
The hospital maintains about 15 to 20 patients in the bloodless medicine
program. Twenty percent of the bloodless medicine patients are not
Jehovah's Witnesses. Other patients opt for bloodless medicine techniques
to avoid blood tainted with HIV and hepatitis C.
Breakthroughs are ongoing in the bloodless medicine program at the
Fountain Valley hospital. Last year, the program expanded into areas that
other medical centers have not entered, such as pediatric and obstetrical
care. Doctors are now improving synthetic hormones that stimulate blood
production and are testing artificial blood. Both may be in use over the
next few years.
Other countries are also starting to catch on to the new program. A
Russian delegation came to visit local hospitals last week to gather
information on the program. In an effort to inform its own community on
what bloodless alternatives are available, Fountain Valley hospital
officials have recently approved an advertising campaign at movie
theaters.
