The September 2024 Foundation Board meeting showcased BioBridge Global’s advanced therapies capabilities at VelocityTX. As our board saw from their tour, the cellular therapies developed have the potential to help patients in many ways. Rowan and Naomi are two examples of patients who have had conditions that are targeted by researchers working on new advanced therapies.
Rowan Windham
Rowan was an incredible young man who was full of faith and light. He remained hopeful even as he fought a rare genetic disorder.
Living by his motto “Love Your Life,” Rowan was known for helping others. In fact, he helped collect hundreds of boxes of cereal for the San Antonio Food Bank while he was receiving treatment in the hospital.
Eventually Rowan and his mother went to Seattle to participate in a clinical trial. He knew the trial might not save him, but he hoped it would help future patients. Rowan also encouraged our BioBridge Global family to continue supporting research.
Rowan passed away at just 10 years old, but he left an inspiring legacy for all of us.
Naomi Hennessey
If you visit one of our donor rooms, you may stumble upon a letter from Annette Hennessey, thanking donors for giving her adopted daughter the blood she needs to live.
For most of her life, Naomi lived with a debilitating blood disorder called thalassemia. She needed blood transfusions every 2-3 weeks to live a normal life and in 12 years, she needed almost 400 transfusions.
Last year, Naomi participated in a clinical trial and received a lifesaving stem cell transplant. This procedure eradicated her disease. Now, she no longer needs blood transfusions.
Naomi can live life to the fullest and is currently in culinary school.
We will continue supporting the development of new therapies to help more patients like Rowan and Naomi.
