Zoes Bone Marrow Buddies provide comforting donation to Rileys Stem Cell Transplant Unit

06/11/2008

Indianapolis - On November 19, 2003, Zoë Bontrager Schultz was born. From the time she was 18 months old, Zoë spent many months in Riley Hospital for Children's Stem Cell Transplant Unit fighting a life threatening immune disorder that required a bone marrow transplant. Zoë went through many medical procedures and hospitalizations but in December 2006, Zoë lost her fight for life during her second bone marrow transplant.

In memory of her strong spirit and fight for life, Zoë's parents, Tish Bontrager and Karl Schultz, formed Zoë's Bone Marrow Buddies - a foundation dedicated to promoting research, education and financial support specifically for the Riley Stem Cell Transplant Unit.

Today, Zoë's Bone Marrow Buddies will present Riley Hospital with brand new recliners for each of the rooms in the Stem Cell Transplant Unit.

"The donation of these recliners will make the lives of patients and their families undergoing stem cell transplants much more comfortable during their hospital stay, which can last up to several months," said Paul Haut, M.D., F.A.A.P., director of Pediatric Stem Cell Transplantation "We are grateful for this gift in loving memory of Zoë."

To donate or for more information on Zoë's Bone Marrow Buddies, please visit www.zoebmb.org.