The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

JUST a week ago, the parents of D’Quan Brown took to their Facebook page to announce what they called ‘Transplant Day.’

D’Quan, a 12-year-old boy who dreamed of becoming a basketball or track star, has spent the last year partially paralysed in a wheelchair, bravely battling a life-threatening disease.

After several months of fighting acute lymphocytic leukaemia, D’Quan recently underwent a bone marrow/stem cell transplant procedure, which required both chemotherapy and radiation as a pre-operative for leukaemia patients.

In the Facebook post, friends wrote kind words such like “power and healing in the mighty name of Jesus’s name,” and “I am praying and sending love and healing energy. I am emotional reading this. D’Quan has inspired many lives, he’s touched hearts. We are all thinking of you all at this time and I know that God’s angels will be with you throughout.”

D’Quan’s father DeQuido Brown told Tribune Health: “In 2012, when D’Quan was 10 years old, he had been diagnosed with Pre B Acute Lymphocytic Leukaemia. D’Quan immediately began receiving standard chemotherapy cancer treatment at a Florida hospital, where he suffered a spinal cord injury. In the summer of 2013 D’Quan suffered a relapse of the disease to the point where we were told that he’d become so seriously ill, that he probably wouldn’t have made it through that night, but God prevailed. D’Quan remained under the care of another South Florida hospital from last summer to this day.”

Mr Brown said it was difficult to speak about the overall turnout of the transplant procedure, as stem cell transplants are very complex, and it’s not possible for the end results and/or prognosis to be predetermined by previous statistics.

Therefore only time will tell.

However, he did say the actual transplant went well and without incident. D’Quan was quite comfortable as he watched TV calmly during the procedure, which took twenty eight minutes to complete.

D’Quan’s six year old sister, D’Quel Brown, played a significant role in his ‘Transplant Day’ procedure, as he was transfused with her stem cells.

“She was an identical match, she’s the smallest piece in the puzzle, the piece that would be shielded away under normal circumstances. She feels great about doing what she did for her brother, and as she took on the role as D’Quan’s stem cell donor, it seemed as if she was aware that moment was her purpose in life, she fought her fears and accepted the challenge, now her big brother has her cheerful DNA,” said DeQuido.

Before January 31, 2014, D’Quan and D’Quel’s reunion day, they had not seen each other for two weeks, even though they were both in the same building.

“D’Quan is in isolation, due to the fact that he is now immunocompromised,” said D’Quan’s father.

“We’re proud parents, they’ve always been really close to one another and always acted as if they couldn’t live without one another, but now they’ve proven that. I would’ve never dreamed that one would have to save the life of another, and at such tender ages,” said DeQuido.

DeQuido said his son had learned a lot from this experience; he’s already missed out on two years of his childhood, track, basketball, soccer, and standard schooling. He lost contact with 99 per cent of his friends, but he has gained 1000 per cent more.

“He’s now partially paralysed and he requires caretaker assistance, his life has been altered in so many ways, not to mention the periodic pain that he goes through. Throughout all of this, he’s become more appreciative of God, life, family, friends, laughter and joyful moments. He just wishes to be a normal kid again,” said DeQuido.

Even though he suffered a spinal cord injury and he’s not able to walk without assisted devices, DeQuido said D’Quan still wants to become a Bahamian Olympian.

“In the future, D’Quan wants to start a childhood cancer clothing line; he wants to become a bilingual spokesperson for children living with cancer, and an activist for children living with paralysis and the families affected by these dilemmas internationally.

“He enjoys watching sports analysts at work and sports analytics, he studies statistics. He enjoys playing NBA2K14 on his PS3 and receiving guitar lessons while he’s in hospital,” said DeQuido.

DeQuido said keeping D’Quan motivated can be very difficult at times, as he is unable to feel his pains and emotions.

“I can’t take his meds or take his place, I can walk, run and jump if and whenever I want; these are simple abilities that he doesn’t possess,” said DeQuido.

Nonetheless, DeQuido said he has to first show him that he is not annoyed by his disabilities and his needs.

“I have to open the blinds in the room. I have to start the vibrant conversations. I have to make him laugh until he cries and I have to bring light to a dark room. I demand that he perks up and out of depression,” said DeQuido.

“I’ve had to become his coach, the one you hate because he works you so hard, he makes sure that you cross those T’s and dot those I’s when you didn’t want to, and he demands one more push up from you just after you’ve given it your all, he gives you his vision and lets you hold the championship trophy before the season starts, then shows you the plan to get there. You don’t appreciate him until the championship has been won. I keep him motivated by showing him that there’s nothing more important to me than him and I’m not moving until he wins his battle.

“It’s a blessing that D’Quan is still with us today,” said DeQuido.