NYC -
The Jeffrey Modell Foundation (JMF)
honored 10-month-old Dawson Bornheimer,
the first baby in the world to be diagnosed,
transplanted and cured of Severe Combined
Immunodeficiency (SCID) as a result of
mandatory newborn screening. The event was
held at Cipriani 42nd Street,
NYC. SCID, which is commonly known
as “Bubble Boy” disease, is fatal if not
treated in the early months of life.
Expert
physicians from all over the world joined
JMF supporters to celebrate Dawson
Bornheimer as he received the
“Ultimate Dream” award. SCID is one of
the 160 Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases
that affect an estimated 3-6 million
Americans. A newborn baby with SCID will
not survive to his or her first birthday;
however, a bone marrow transplant can cure
the disease.
Bone
Marrow Transplants now have 95% success rate
if screened early. If the condition is
discovered 6-8 months into life, the success
rate drops dramatically, the costs are
prohibitive and the baby may not survive,
which is why newborn screening is so vital.
You have to know if your baby has SCID, and
the only way to know is to screen! The
Jeffrey Modell Foundation funded the
first population screening for newborns in
the state of Wisconsin, where all newborns
are being screened currently.
Founders
Vicki and Fred Modell established
the JMF in 1987 in memory of their son,
Jeffrey, who died at the age of 15 from
complications of Primary
Immunodeficiency, a genetic defect that
can be fatal and that affects an estimated
3-6 million Americans. Today, the JMF is a
multifaceted global nonprofit organization
devoted to the early and precise diagnosis,
meaningful treatments, and ultimately cures
of PI, and is focused on physician
education, public awareness, and clinical
and basic research to better understand and
treat PI. There are 52 Jeffrey Modell
Research and Diagnostic Centers worldwide.
www.jmfworld.com