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Meet Kaleb Rancer: Transplant Patient
05/23/2007
News
Meet Kaleb Rancer: Transplant Patient
Date Posted: 05/23/2007
Kaleb Rancer was born with a rare blood disorder that causes bone marrow failure. To survive Kaleb needed to undergo a life-saving transplant.
The Rancers began fundraising with NTAF in 2005 to raise funds for the crushing medical costs they faced: a costly transplant, extended hospital stays, medications, as well as food, travel and relocation expenses.
Nov. 16, 2005, 2-year-old Kaleb received the gift of life—a bone marrow transplant—at Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina. Eighty days later, Kaleb’s body began to produce white blood cells—Kaleb was on the road to recovery.
To his family’s great relief, Kaleb was responding well to treatment. But the medical bills continued to mount.
With the help of Kaleb’s NTAF patient services manager, Joni Henderson, and the owner of Sportscenter Triad, a local sports facility, the Rancers launched a fundraising event: “Be the Biggest Loser in 2006 So Kaleb Can Be Our Biggest Winner”— modeled off the popular NBC show Biggest Loser.
Nineteen gym members entered the 8-week contest and pledges were made per pounds lost. Collectively the group lost 200 pounds and raised $9,500 to benefit Kaleb’s NTAF campaign. The winner weighed 300 pounds at the start of the competition and shed 29 pounds throughout the eight weeks.
Speaking with Henderson, he said, “I never met Kaleb Rancer. I may never meet Kaleb Rancer, but I want him to know that he saved my life.”
