THROUGHOUT her short life, Alana Dung battled the odds. In April 1996, the cute 22-month-old was diagnosed with leukemia. The daughter of Adelia and Stephen Dung of Nuuanu would need a bone marrow transplant to survive, but first she required a donor match. It would be a long shot -- about 1 in 20,000 -- especially since the Hawaii Bone Marrow Donor Registry was very small, with only about 15,000 names on its rolls. Alana Dung is now
a dragonfly in heavenBut Alana's parents had hope. Their ohana organized 40 blood-collection drives on five islands over six weeks. What were the odds that the community would respond?
To the Dungs' joyous amazement, thousands of residents heard their appeals through the media and showed up to be tested. At one event at the Blaisdell Arena, nearly 5,000 individuals were registered.
Alana continued to beat the odds, as people watched her progress with crossed fingers:
May 1996, when word came that a donor was found in Taiwan.
Alana did so well that she was honored at the Aloha Bowl on Christmas Day, appearing on the stadium field with her family as fans cheered. On May 20, 1997, when she celebrated her third birthday, all of Hawaii rejoiced, too.
But then the cancer returned and this time it physically overpowered her. On Oct. 14, 1997, at 12:45 in the morning, Alana died peacefully in her sleep.
Amid the gloom and mourning, her brother, Spencer, shared an inspiring perspective. Based on the Doris Stickney book, "Water Bugs and Dragonflies," which describes the transformation of a water bug into a winged beauty, Spencer declared, "Alana's a dragonfly now."
That's partly why the Dung family decided, after all its members have been through, not to retreat to a "normal" life. Far from it.
They started the Alana Dung Research Foundation, which provides funding for medical study. They continue to support the bone marrow registry -- now the eighth largest in the world with more than 53,000 registrants.
They are also co-sponsors of what is being billed as a "grass roots experience" to benefit the fledgling Hawaii Cord Blood Bank. Dubbed "Dreams & Dragonflies," the 6 p.m. reception, dinner and tribute to Alana is set for Friday, Oct. 23, at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.
The event will feature an international menu, entertainment and a dragonfly creation contest in which all entries will be sold, along with other exceptional items and packages in a silent auction. Cost is $100 per person ($50 is tax deductible); for reservations, call Lisa at 737-8988 or Marilyn at 591-8293.
WHAT are the odds that the people of Hawaii will, once again, turn out for Alana? This time the act would benefit a local medical bank that, like the bone marrow registry, could bring hope to those diagnosed with serious blood disorders or life-threatening diseases.
What are the odds that local residents will plunk down a C-note each, or convince their employers to buy corporate tables, to promote a cutting-edge procedure that may lead to more successful transplants?
Actually the chances are pretty good because, hey, we're talking about Alana here! Never, ever bet against her. Even in heaven, she's a formidable force.
Diane Yukihiro Chang's column runs Monday and Friday.
She can be reached by phone at 525-8607, via e-mail at
DianeChang@aol.com, or by fax at 523-7863.