Twins In Chatham School Community, Fighting Cancer, Find Donor

CHATHAM, NJ — Communities came out in full force to see if they could become donors for Jackie and later her sister, Addison. But the twins finally found a match close to home for a bone-marrow transplant: their mother.

Brian Erb — a Chatham High School teacher — and his wife, Lauren Gonnella, have faced a difficult journey with their twin daughters. Jackie, 5, was diagnosed in December with juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML), a rare form of cancer.

The family knew that Addison, as an identical twin, may develop the disease, as well. They received her diagnosis recently.

But the family received encouraging news about the twins' path to recovery. Organizers for Team Jackie & Addison — a group helping the family and updating the community on their treatment — announced Monday that Gonnella received confirmation as an eligible donor.

Jackie and Addison will begin the next chapter of treatment. The girls and both parents will get admitted to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) on Wednesday, according to Tricia Russo's update on Meal Train.

Gonnella will have five days of shots to booster her marrow production before it's collected Feb. 24 for a transplant a day later. Then they'll need to stay in the hospital four to six more weeks.

Many people participated in Be The Match events, where they could submit samples to find out whether they're eligible bone-marrow donors for Jackie and Addison. That community participation will continue serving a purpose.

"It is still a priority for folks to send in their swab kits for Be The Match and to continue lining up socially distanced drives as a back up plan should this not take or if they ever need it in the future," Russo said. "Additionally it will offer life-saving matches for others!"

The National Marrow Donor Program operates Be the Match. The donor program says it has managed the world's largest and most diverse marrow registry.

Jackie and Addison could help them expand those efforts, and save lives.

"Ultimately, we would introduce our Team Jackie & Addison liaison to a Be the Match representative," Russo said, "who can help them get in touch with people on campus to organize a drive. "

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