Leukemia can't stop debut of third Onaga daughter
Kapolei resident Sharnell Onaga, 38, who has an aggressive form of leukemia, gave birth to her third daughter at 9:44 p.m. Monday at the Queen's Medical Center.
Onaga's baby wasn't due until January but she was admitted to the hospital Sunday night to induce labor because of rapidly advancing leukemia, Friends For Sharnell Onaga reported.
The baby was 17 inches long and weighed 4 pounds, 3 ounces. She was transferred to Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children for monitoring because she had a little difficulty breathing, according to the organization.
Onaga had a transfusion of platelets and was moved to the oncology ward to begin chemotherapy. She is expected to be hospitalized for at least a month.
Friends for Sharnell Onaga, formed by family and friends, has helped the Hawaii Bone Marrow Registry sign up 1,200 potential donors but a bone marrow match hasn't been found yet.
The group also joined with Soroptimist International of Honolulu to collect donations to help the Onaga family with an estimated $100,000 in medical expenses. Tax-deductible donations may be made to SI Honolulu-FFSO and mailed to Friends of Sharnell Onaga, P.O. Box 700814, Kapolei, 96709. First Hawaiian Bank also will accept cash donations.
For more information, see www.sharnell.org or call 421-3396.