Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 12, 1994 TAG: 9401120218
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: BALTIMORE LENGTH: Medium
Dr. Richard Jones, who performed the transplant Tuesday at Johns Hopkins Hospital, said donating marrow may slow an athlete whose success hinges on fractions of a second.
The pint of marrow taken from Talbot was about 2 percent of the total in her bones, equivalent to the amount of blood taken during routine donations, Jones said.
During the 40-minute procedure, three holes were poked into her skin and about 100 holes were drilled into one of her hips to reach the marrow. Jones said Johns Hopkins performs more than 1,800 such marrow transplants each year.
Jones said the two-time Olympian's blood count should return to normal within a few days, but she will be "somewhat anemic" in terms of health standards for athletes.
The expected side effects of donating marrow are soreness and weakness, but nothing that should keep Talbot from traveling to Norway and competing in the Winter Games, Jones said.
"We feel very certain she'll be able to compete," Jones said.
Jones said Talbot decided to donate her marrow before she knew she was a match. Once the match was confirmed, doctors said the transplant could wait until after Talbot finished competing at the Olympic trials during the weekend in Milwaukee.
Talbot was the fourth and final qualifier Saturday for the 500-meter speedskating event.
At a news conference Monday at the hospital, Talbot said the health of her brother is far more important than her speedskating goals.
Doctors said they will know within a month if the transplant is successful.
by CNB