UD football 'teammate' needs bone marrow transplant

Jessica Bies
The News Journal

A young boy adopted by the University of Delaware football team in 2012 while being treated for T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma — a rare and very aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma — is now in need of a bone marrow transplant. 

In late December, four months away from being considered cured, Danny Feltwell relapsed and was rehospitalized, his father told the News Journal

University of Delaware Detective Bill Wentz is collecting cards and get-well wishes for his friend Danny Feltwell, who is in the hospital battling cancer.

Doctors discovered a large tumor was compressing Danny's superior vena cava and bronchial tubes, making it difficult for him to breathe. He underwent a four-and-a-half-hour surgery almost immediately and has been undergoing chemotherapy. 

With his immune system now severely compromised, Danny is back at Nemours/A.I. duPont Hospital for Children being treated for a serious infection. A bone marrow transplant would essentially replace Danny's immune system with a whole new one, capable of fighting any residual cancer. 

His father is encouraging local residents to have their bone marrow tested, not only to see if they're a match for Danny but for other children with cancer. 

Bone marrow makes more than 200 billion new blood cells every day, including red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets and often, a transplant is a person’s best chance of survival and a possible cure.

“Danny is fortunate that there is a 98 percent chance that he will find a match based on his genetic background,” said Daniel Feltwell Jr., Danny’s dad. “But there are other children on the same hallway as Danny from an ethnically diverse background who will have a smaller chance, and in some cases, they have only a 40 percent chance of finding a genetic match. That’s why we are calling on everybody to step forward and be someone’s hero. As Danny says ‘All kids deserve a match.’”

Inspired by Danny's courage and resilience, several local organizations are holding "Be The Match" donor registration events this week. They will be held at the University of Delaware and at the New Castle County Gilliam Building. Times and locations are as follows: 

FEBRUARY 21
The Retreat at Newark
501 Hamlet Way, Newark
5 – 8 p.m.

FEBRUARY 22
New Castle County Gilliam Building
77 Reads Way, New Castle
3 – 8 p.m

Participation is quick and easy – the process takes just 15 minutes with the completion of paperwork and a painless cheek swab. No advance registration is needed. 

The donor registration events are open to all members of the public ages 18 to 44, and nearly 98 percent of all successful matches come from people in that age range. 

Individuals ages 45 to 60 may register online to receive a testing kit at https://join.bethematch.org/PrayForDanny but must pay a $100 registration fee. 

Registered donors are listed on the Be The Match Registry until the age of 61. Registration is voluntary and participants can remove themselves at any time. 

Former UD receiver Mike Johnson poses with Danny Feltwell at Philadelphia Eagles camp in 2015.

Aimee Haskew, a representative for Be The Match, said donors are needed. 

“Myths regarding the donation process prevent many people from joining in the first place," she said. “Many people believe the myths perpetuated by TV and movies that donating is incredibly painful with a long recovery time.” 

In truth, most donors donate blood stem cells in a procedure similar to a platelet or plasma donation. Marrow donation is still done about 20 percent of the time but is completed with the donor under general anesthesia. Most donors are back to school or work within a day or two of donating.

Most donors say if they were called to donate a second time they would “do it in a heartbeat,” Haskew said.

New Castle County government officials are encouraging residents to join, as well. 

Danny Feltwell poses for a picture with Detective Bill Wentz and another University of Delaware police officer. The department is asking for help making Danny, back in the hospital this month, smile.

“Danny’s courage and energy and his family’s optimism for the future are an inspiration, but Danny and others need our help to give cancer patients the best chances for successful treatment,” County Executive Matt Meyer said. 

The University of Delaware Police Department has been promoting the donor drive and rallied around Danny last month by collecting letters and gifts for the sick boy. Detective Bill Wentz, who met Danny at a Blue Hens football game and has remained a family friend, even wrote a letter to Danny's favorite football player, Philadelphia Eagles' Carson Wentz, who recorded a Facebook message for Danny last month. 

"I just want you to know when I'm out there playing, I'm playing for people like you," Carson Wentz told Danny. "And also, I just want you to know, I'm praying for you. I'm praying for you, I'm wishing you the best, thinking about you." 

Former Vice President Joe Biden also recorded a Facebook video for Danny and told the boy he was looking forward to the day Danny played for the Blue Hens. 

"I'll be there cheering for you," Biden said, sharing that his son, Beau, died from cancer, but that other members of his family have survived the disease. 

"Keep fighting," Biden said. 

Contact Jessica Bies at (302) 324-2881 or jbies@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @jessicajbies.

Looking for more education news? Visit delawareonline.com/education. Submit story ideas at http://delonline.us/2i2tugB

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