ST. LOUIS — A Pittsburgh family has used their unexpected journey to give back to people in need of a bone marrow transplant.
Tanner Blackham, a Pittsburgh mother of a child with a rare genetic mutation, has partnered with the Alpha Delta Pi sorority at St. Louis University to create a Stem Cell Registration Drive on Saturday, April 6 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the St. Louis University Clocktower.
Tanner recalls being involved in many drives to find a match for her daughter. She said originally there was no match for 7-month-old Clementine in March 2023.
"My family had donor drives every single week and we had thousands of people joining the registry in honor of Clementine," Tanner said.
Finally in August 2023, the match came all the way from Europe. The family had been waiting for this gift from a stranger since Clementine was just two weeks old. Before she had a diagnosis Tanner felt something was wrong.
After Tanner advocated persistently she learned that her daughter is the first girl in history to be diagnosed with her rare genetic mutation.
"She is the tenth child diagnosed and only two of the boys are alive. So it puts us in a really small bubble because only three of those children, now four with Clementine, had underwent a bone marrow transplant with chemo and radiation. Only two of them, now three with Clementine are still surviving," Tanner said.
The Blackham family gave up their jobs, home, and entire community to find Clementine help.
The Blackham family
"When we looked at who was our best option we knew our hometown wasn't because they actually missed Clementine's diagnoses," Tanner said.
One doctor they went to visit for a second opinion in Philadelphia recommended the family come to St. Louis because the doctor who discovered the genetic mutation and the other doctor who successfully helped one of the children like Clementine were all in St. Louis. Tanner called the decision a "no brainer."
They moved to St. Louis to receive adequate care for Clementine. Now Tanner said that Clementine is stable.
Over the course of Clementine's life, Tanner amplified her voice by using her social media to share the story.
"I needed an outlet outside of having a sick baby. I felt like I had truly lost myself to start and then you get thrown into the medical world that you have no idea about and I just needed something to be mine. I needed something that I could share my story, my daughters story without feeling like all I am is a mom with a medically complex kiddo."
Tanner has gained 1.2 million followers on TikTok and has been contacted by people from all over the world who are encouraged and supportive during this journey.
"For me I am just a young mom of two kids, who's just trying to get by and to other people I am this inspiration, Tanner said.
While Tanner has processed this experience publicly, she told 5 On Your Side that her husband has become a runner.
"He now runs eight miles," Tanner said about his coping strategy. "As for me how I can help others has been big for me. ... It's not huge movements but it's something to give back because we have been given so gracefully. I love sharing our story and my goal and mission in life is to share Clementine's story."
The Blackham family has been in St. Louis for nine months with only one of those months spent with their Pittsburgh community beside them.
Tanner said about ADPi, "The sorority girls have been such a lifeline for us here. I never thought that some college girls would be my biggest support system."
ADPi met the family while volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House.
SLU student and ADPi member Meg Murphy said the drive will support Clementine’s family while "also honoring those who are currently fighting, in remission, and have passed from blood-related cancer in the STL community with honor signs."
If you would like to become a donor, all it takes is 90 seconds to get swabbed and change someone's life at the event on April 6. There will be face painting, food trucks, balloon artists, and a SLU student-run business market at the drive. This event is open to the public and the event includes free parking at Laclede garage from 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.
Tanner wants to help more families and she plans to keep going until the mission is complete.
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