Toddler battles rare medical condition

A toddler with local ties is one step closer to a cure after battling a rare medical condition.

Joshua “Miller” Gamberi Jr. was diagnosed in November with a severe combined immunodeficiency known as MHC Class II deficiency or Bare Lymphocyte Class II. Just seven months old at the time, Gamberi became one of less than 200 people worldwide to be diagnosed with the extremely rare condition.

Ali Fonseca, who lives in Luling, is a cousin to Gamberi’s mother. She said the family was told by doctors that the only permanent treatment for the baby was a bone marrow transplant, with the best results being when it is performed within the first two years of life.

“Gamberi’s doctors are confident that a transplant will cure him,” Fonseca said. “He had his first transplant on Valentine’s Day, and then the day after the whole family came down with COVID. Doctors now believe the medicine they gave him for COVID canceled out the transplant.”

Gamberi received a second transplant at the end of March.

“Everything seems to be going in the right direction now,” Fonseca said.

Fonseca works at The Basketry in Luling, where a blood drive was held Saturday in Gamberi’s honor.

“I’ve been there for about eight years, and as soon as they announced that the new transplant was coming and that there was a need for blood the first thing I thought of is that our community in St. Charles Parish always rallies around people,” Fonseca said, adding that everyone at The Basketry was on board to help make the blood drive a success.

The drive included raffles to incentivize participation, and Fonseca said any collections not used by Gamberi would be given to someone else.

“There’s a ton of people who need blood,” she said. “Anything to help him and others and bring people together is what I’m all about.”

Gamberi’s journey can be followed on a Facebook page titled “Miller’s Match.” Gamberi, who lives on the Northshore, just turned one.

Fonseca said anyone between the ages of 18-40 who would be willing to sign up to be a blood marrow donor for Gamberi – or whoever they may match with – can text MILLERSMATCH to 61474.