Saving Lives with Coral Reefs
In January 2024, Audrey Lindsay was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, a type of cancer affecting the blood and bone marrow. Holly Pacenta M.D., Cook Children's pediatric oncologist, knew Cytarabine was essential to her treatment plan. This medicine, which prevents cancer cells from multiplying, comes from a sea sponge that lives in coral reefs. Audrey is just one of 500,000 Americans with leukemia who rely on this life-saving medicine.
As of March 2024, Audrey is in remission, but the story of her treatment is also a reminder that saving coral reefs can directly save lives. The national demand for medicines that depend on marine habitats has grown by nearly 1,400% in the past decade. In 2021, over 3 million prescriptions were filled for medications made from the ocean. Protecting our reefs is more than preserving marine life, it's about protecting the health of people like Audrey, who depend on our partnership with these natural resources for their treatment.