A local woman is hoping others in the community will help her efforts in finding a cure for a rare disease found in newborns.

Christian Opportunity Center program coordinator Ruth Ann Triplett is participating in PROFNAIT, a project aiming to develop a new treatment that prevents excessive bleeding in fetuses and newborns. PROFNAIT is developing a drug from human plasma for children born with Fetal and Neonatal Alloimmune Thrombocytopenia, a condition which may result in too few blood platelets to stop the infant from bleeding. As a mother who gave birth to two children, Ellamae and Easton, with the condition, Ruth Ann felt called to take action.

“I heard about the PROFNAIT project through a Facebook support group for families affected by NAIT called ‘Naitbabies,’” Ruth Ann said. “Many babies die or are disabled due to this disease. I would do anything to help prevent this blood disorder, so I signed up.”

Triplett has been making the trip to Iowa’s lone donation center, Biotest in Iowa City, because she believes it may save a life. We have more with Triplett on Let’s Talk Pella.