RIDGEFIELD — By the time Danny Alder was 9 years old, he had already endured a cancer diagnosis and six years of off-and-on chemotherapy. He underwent radiation and experienced cardiac arrest and respiratory arrest — caused by the cancer-fighting drugs — but still had cancer.
Finally, out of options, his doctors recommended a procedure that was only being done in a few places in the world: bone marrow transplantation. The year was 1984 and, fortunately for the Alder family, Seattle’s Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center was pioneering the use of bone marrow transplants.
Still, the procedure was relatively uncommon. Danny was given a 20 to 30 percent chance of surviving the transplant.
“Danny flew through that,” said Darlene Alder, Danny’s mom.
Danny returned to his family’s Ridgefield home cancer-free.
Today, the 42-year-old has some side effects from the harsh drugs his young body was exposed to, but he’s relatively healthy. With the help of special education classes, he graduated from Ridgefield High School in 1995. And, thanks to a job training program offered through special education, he got a job working at the Salmon Creek Albertsons store, where he recently celebrated 22 years of employment.
“He’s a success of the community,” said Francis Alder, Danny’s dad. “The community helped him in a special way.”
‘Last chance’
When Danny was 3 years old, he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma — a cancer that originates in the white blood cells of the lymphatic system.
For about six years, Danny underwent multiple rounds of chemotherapy. Every time treatment stopped, Danny relapsed. His doctors said they had to do something different if they were to beat the cancer and told the family about bone marrow transplants.
“We didn’t even know much about it,” Darlene said.
Bone marrow is the soft tissue inside bones that produces blood-forming cells, which later mature into red blood cells, white blood cells or platelets. Cancer can interfere with that process. A bone marrow transplant replaces the unhealthy blood-forming cells with healthy ones.
“This was the last chance,” Francis said. “It may not work, but there’s nothing else left.”
Danny’s older brother, Brian, who was 11 at the time, was a close match and donated his healthy bone marrow. Danny spent a month in the hospital, followed by several months in a Seattle apartment with his mom. Finally, on Jan. 22, 1985, Danny and Darlene returned home. They were greeted by family members and friends, who tied hundreds of yellow ribbons to the fence and trees on the Alder property.
As a result of the chemotherapy and full-body radiation he received as a child, Danny experiences occasional seizures. His growth was stunted; hormone therapy helped him grow to 5 feet 6 inches.
Danny also has memory problems. He’s good with repetition but struggles to remember most other things. For example, he has a hard time remembering how old he is, but he’s quick to rattle off his birthdate.
Recently, Danny was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Doctors suspect it’s the result of the radiation. Danny underwent surgery to have his thyroid removed Tuesday and will soon undergo treatment with radioactive isotopes.
Despite the lingering health issues, Francis and Darlene say they feel fortunate. Danny was one of 10 kids on his floor at the hospital to receive transplants in 1984. The Alders have stayed in touch with many of those families.
“He’s the only one alive still,” Francis said.
“He’s in uncharted territory,” he added.
Some independence
After graduating high school, Danny went to work as a courtesy clerk at Albertsons. He spends his days carrying full grocery bags out to customers’ cars and retrieving shopping carts from the parking lot. He’s become a staple at the Salmon Creek store, with customers greeting him by name and giving him gifts on holidays.
The job, Francis said, may not be a job other people would want. But for Danny, it’s perfect.
“They know about my memory problem, and I can’t do things as much as other people,” Danny said.
But the job gives Danny, who lives with his parents, some independence and responsibility. He’s reliable, a hard worker and he loves going to work, Francis said.
The job also gives Danny some financial independence. He uses the money he earns to buy his own clothes and souvenirs while on vacation, Darlene said.
The recent cancer diagnosis and surgery will keep Danny out of work for a while, but once he’s well, he’ll be back at Albertsons greeting customers.
“That’s part of his joy in life,” Francis said, “to be able to help people.”
