Taken too soon , Alana ’ s life continues to inspire
Alana Dung was with us for only three years , but her short life continues to affect others , decades after her death in 1997 .
“ Hawai ‘ i ’ s Little Girl ” captured the hearts of Hawai ‘ i residents when , a month before her second birthday , she was diagnosed with a rare leukemia . Thousands of islanders lined up at bone marrow drives across the state in an effort to save Alana ’ s life .
In a Washington cancer research center soon after , Alana received her transplant from a bone marrow donor in Taiwan . She was well enough to return home , but she later suffered a relapse . Her immune system failed , and she died in her Nu ‘ uanu home at age three .
ALANA WAS A COURAGEOUS AND SPIRITED FIGHTER TO THE END . WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT ALANA ’ S LIFE HAS BROUGHT TO THE FOREFRONT PUBLIC AWARENESS OF LEUKEMIA AND THE NEED FOR PUBLIC SUPPORT TO AID THOSE WHO ARE AFFLICTED WITH THIS DISEASE .”
In a statement to the local press , her parents Stephen and Adelia said , “ Alana was a courageous and spirited fighter to the end . We are hopeful that Alana ’ s life has brought to the forefront public awareness of leukemia and the need for public support to aid those who are afflicted with this disease .”
STIRRING HAWAI ‘ I TO ACTION
Alana ’ s courage inspired a local best-selling children ’ s book , a stage musical , and more than 30,000 of her neighbors to be added to Hawai ‘ i ’ s bone marrow registry , which until then had 16,000 names . The foundation bearing her name supports research to improve the quality of life for children with serious illnesses , and assists organizations working to eliminate suffering from terminal illnesses .
To support this effort , contact lynne . wooddell @ uhfoundation . org or 808-356-5757 .
Big brother Spencer and Alana Dung
Now Alana ’ s impact will reach even further . The Alana Dung Foundation recently donated to the University of Hawai ‘ i Cancer Center for the development of its Early Phase Clinical Research Center ( EPCRC ) and Organoid Generation Facility . The EPCRC will be the first in the state and allow cancer patients to participate in Phase 1 clinical trials without travel to the mainland . The organoid generation facility will provide an invaluable resource to the biological study of cancers in minority populations with significant cancer disparities in Hawai ‘ i and the Pacific .
NEW HOPE FOR HAWAI ‘ I ’ S CANCER PATIENTS
Access to early phase clinical trials in the state means some patients may receive innovative cancer treatments at home in Hawai ‘ i . “ My family and I are excited to carry on Alana ’ s legacy with support for the new Early Phase Clinical Research Center ,” says Spencer Dung , Alana ’ s brother . “ It will provide the people of Hawai ‘ i an opportunity to receive innovative and cutting-edge treatments here at home , an opportunity Alana didn ’ t have .”
Already , the UH Cancer Center has raised 70 percent of funds needed to build the EPCRC , thanks in part to Alana and her family . Soon , with a little more help , Hawai ‘ i will take another step toward relieving the suffering caused by this terrible disease .
PIPCHE Transforms the Cancer Care Landscape of Guam ( Continued from page 3 )
forward indigenous Pacific researchers and scientific leaders , relevant Pacific-based interventions addressing disparities , and has increased the capacity for both institutions to understand and achieve cancer health equity in the Pacific ,” added Neal Palafox , MD , MPH , principal investigator , UH Cancer Center .
Besides continued emphasis on research and education in the current grant , there are three funded research projects with specific goals : 1 ) to compare levels of areca nut-specific compounds to assist with cessation efforts ; 2 ) to develop culturally-grounded evidence-based tobacco and areca nut prevention programs for middle school youth ; and 3 ) to examine risk factors associated with liver disease and cancer .
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