Children's Hospital patient meets donors who helped save his life

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- An 11-year-old boy fighting severe aplastic anemia was able to meet the people who helped save his life on Tuesday. 

Over the last seven months, doctors at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin didn't know if Ian would ever leave the hospital. Countless different treatments weren't working, and he actually spent a large part of the spring in a coma. But thanks to eight people who donated their time and some white blood cells, Ian was able to recover.

He's doing so well in fact, that he was able to go home about two weeks ago. Officials at Children's Hospital call his case "astonishing," and the donors were moved to be able to meet Ian. 

"A lot of us have given a lot of granulocytes, and we never really see the product of what we do, so this is really special for us too," said donor Jane Ambrose of Shorewood.

"When you see the billboards about heroes and the Blood Center, these are the heroes. Thank you," said Dr. David Margolis of Children's Hospital. 

Ian was back at the hospital Tuesday for a follow-up appointment. Dr. Margolis told the donors that without their gift, Ian would not be here today.