Baby Trevor's legacy helps save lives | News

CAMERON PARK, CA - The story of GMA anchor Robin Roberts' decision to tell her story can't help but raise awareness of the need for people to become part of the bone marrow registry.

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In the Sacramento area, many have been inspired to 'Be the Match' because of baby Trevor Kott. Trevor was born in October of 2006 and the day his parents were preparing to take him home, the doctor took them aside.

"He said I can't believe I'm telling you this, but we believe your son has leukemia," Trevor's mother Angela Kott said. "So, we never made it home. And his only home was a 10 by 10 hospital room for six months."

A search for a bone marrow donor turned out the community, even went world wide, but no one was found in time to save Trevor's life. However, his story has been an inspiration for many.

Jenny Asay had wanted to help Trevor, but she turned out not to be a match. She was a match, however, for a young man from Canada whose life she ended up saving. Since then, they have become fast friends.

"You know, I feel really lucky," Jenny said. "Honestly, I feel really lucky that I was given the opportunity to do that and if it hadn't been him, I hope it would have been for someone else."

It is, the Kotts believe, part of their young son's legacy.

"I think that gives us peace, that he came and saved a lot of lives in his short six months in a 10 by 10 hospital room," Kott said. "And he continues six years later to do that."

The BloodSource Blood Bank encourages people to find out about donating bone marrow and if they, too, would like to save someone's life, to join the Be The Match registry.

"It's a very simple process to join the registry," BloodSource's Vicki Wolse said, herself a bone marrow recipient, "It's really a mouthswab with a Q-tip."

According to BloodSource, there are "about 10,000 people diagnosed each year with some kind of condition for which a bone marrow transplant is considered" a potential cure.

By Jonathan Mumm, jmumm@news10.net