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American Morning
Brotherly Love
Aired April 28, 2003 - 07:43 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Marine Private First Class Ian Perry was dispatched to Kuwait to help fight the war in Iraq, but he ended up coming home to try to and save his brother's life. Ian was on board the USSA Kearsarge when he received word that his older brother, Scott, and his cancer had come back. Last week, Ian donated stem cells to try to save Scott in preparation for a bone marrow transplant.
This morning, Ian Perry, his brother, Scott, and Scott's doctor, John Edwards, are with us live today in Orlando, Florida.
Good to have all three of you, and good morning.
PFC. IAN PERRY, DONATED STEM CELLS TO HIS BROTHER: Good morning.
SCOTT PERRY, WILL RECEIVE STEM CELLS FROM HIS BROTHER: Good morning.
DR. JOHN EDWARDS, MEDICAL DIR., FLORIDA HOSP. CANCER INST.: Good morning.
HEMMER: Ian, take us back. You're on the Kearsarge, Persian Gulf, off the coast of Kuwait. You get the phone call that day. What do you remember, and how did you react?
I. PERRY: Actually, I got an e-mail from my mom saying that Scott's cancer had come back, and the Red Cross had been contacted. At that point, I kind of got a little upset that Scott's cancer came back. I knew what it meant for me, though, that I needed to come home, because I was a match for Scott to get the bone marrow stem cells. So...
HEMMER: So, you knew that right away then?
I. PERRY: Yes.
HEMMER: Scott, you had the procedure last week. How are you doing?
S. PERRY: Actually, I haven't had it yet.
HEMMER: All right, how is your health today?
S. PERRY: It's good. It's good. I feel good.
HEMMER: Yes, tell us about the match with your brother right now. Knowing that he is 20 years old, knowing that the medical doctors will tell you that youth is a good thing on this, and knowing that he is almost the best identical match you can find on the entire planet coming from half a world away, the impact for you is what?
S. PERRY: Well, obviously, I'm happy and glad that I have a match out there, and with him being young, the chances of, I guess, me getting through it a little easier might help. Him being a good match, it's all a plus in my book.
HEMMER: Yes, Doctor, what are you concerned about going forward for Scott?
EDWARDS: Scott is facing the transplant in about two weeks. He'll actually start chemotherapy and radiation therapy at that time. He'll face a pretty tough battle. He'll get sick and have to take a lot of medicines, but I think Scott is in good shape. As you can see, he looks very healthy. That's a real positive factor. And we're very optimistic that Ian's cells that he donated will do a great job.
HEMMER: Yes, I understand the brothers, you describe yourself as not the mushy type. What kind of a relationship do you have, guys?
I. PERRY: We have a real close relationship. We've become close within the last two years. Since there is such an age difference, we weren't the closest brothers when we were younger. You know, we get along -- we get along great. I love him to death. He's a good guy.
HEMMER: Yes, Ian, what do you think this does for your relationship now?
I. PERRY: Well, me and him have talked about this, and, you know, I don't love him any more as a brother now and he doesn't love me any more as a brother now. We -- you know, I mean, we're close. I mean, I'm doing what I've got to do. I mean, any brother should do it. If they don't there's something wrong with him.
HEMMER: Yes, Scott, I understand you have a son, Zachary (ph). You consider him a miracle. How so? Tell us his story.
S. PERRY: Well, when I last had chemo, I had Chop (ph), and the doctors had told me that it would make me sterile. And either they were wrong or something, because we have a beautiful little boy now, and that was wonderful.
HEMMER: It's a good thing they were wrong, don't you think?
S. PERRY: In my book, yes.
HEMMER: Yes, because this guy right there in our picture looks like he's pretty right to us.
Hey, listen, best of luck to you. We'll certainly keep you in our thoughts as we go down the road here. And I know you're not out of the woods yet, but this is a truly positive sign for you, Scott. I want to wish you the best of luck, OK?
S. PERRY: Thank you, Bill. HEMMER: All right. Ian, best of luck to you as well. Be a good donor. And, Doctor, take good care of him. Maybe we can check in again in two weeks when the procedure gets under way, and we'll check in on the progress then.
Thanks to all three of you, live this morning in Orlando.
I. PERRY: Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Aired April 28, 2003 - 07:43 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Marine Private First Class Ian Perry was dispatched to Kuwait to help fight the war in Iraq, but he ended up coming home to try to and save his brother's life. Ian was on board the USSA Kearsarge when he received word that his older brother, Scott, and his cancer had come back. Last week, Ian donated stem cells to try to save Scott in preparation for a bone marrow transplant.
This morning, Ian Perry, his brother, Scott, and Scott's doctor, John Edwards, are with us live today in Orlando, Florida.
Good to have all three of you, and good morning.
PFC. IAN PERRY, DONATED STEM CELLS TO HIS BROTHER: Good morning.
SCOTT PERRY, WILL RECEIVE STEM CELLS FROM HIS BROTHER: Good morning.
DR. JOHN EDWARDS, MEDICAL DIR., FLORIDA HOSP. CANCER INST.: Good morning.
HEMMER: Ian, take us back. You're on the Kearsarge, Persian Gulf, off the coast of Kuwait. You get the phone call that day. What do you remember, and how did you react?
I. PERRY: Actually, I got an e-mail from my mom saying that Scott's cancer had come back, and the Red Cross had been contacted. At that point, I kind of got a little upset that Scott's cancer came back. I knew what it meant for me, though, that I needed to come home, because I was a match for Scott to get the bone marrow stem cells. So...
HEMMER: So, you knew that right away then?
I. PERRY: Yes.
HEMMER: Scott, you had the procedure last week. How are you doing?
S. PERRY: Actually, I haven't had it yet.
HEMMER: All right, how is your health today?
S. PERRY: It's good. It's good. I feel good.
HEMMER: Yes, tell us about the match with your brother right now. Knowing that he is 20 years old, knowing that the medical doctors will tell you that youth is a good thing on this, and knowing that he is almost the best identical match you can find on the entire planet coming from half a world away, the impact for you is what?
S. PERRY: Well, obviously, I'm happy and glad that I have a match out there, and with him being young, the chances of, I guess, me getting through it a little easier might help. Him being a good match, it's all a plus in my book.
HEMMER: Yes, Doctor, what are you concerned about going forward for Scott?
EDWARDS: Scott is facing the transplant in about two weeks. He'll actually start chemotherapy and radiation therapy at that time. He'll face a pretty tough battle. He'll get sick and have to take a lot of medicines, but I think Scott is in good shape. As you can see, he looks very healthy. That's a real positive factor. And we're very optimistic that Ian's cells that he donated will do a great job.
HEMMER: Yes, I understand the brothers, you describe yourself as not the mushy type. What kind of a relationship do you have, guys?
I. PERRY: We have a real close relationship. We've become close within the last two years. Since there is such an age difference, we weren't the closest brothers when we were younger. You know, we get along -- we get along great. I love him to death. He's a good guy.
HEMMER: Yes, Ian, what do you think this does for your relationship now?
I. PERRY: Well, me and him have talked about this, and, you know, I don't love him any more as a brother now and he doesn't love me any more as a brother now. We -- you know, I mean, we're close. I mean, I'm doing what I've got to do. I mean, any brother should do it. If they don't there's something wrong with him.
HEMMER: Yes, Scott, I understand you have a son, Zachary (ph). You consider him a miracle. How so? Tell us his story.
S. PERRY: Well, when I last had chemo, I had Chop (ph), and the doctors had told me that it would make me sterile. And either they were wrong or something, because we have a beautiful little boy now, and that was wonderful.
HEMMER: It's a good thing they were wrong, don't you think?
S. PERRY: In my book, yes.
HEMMER: Yes, because this guy right there in our picture looks like he's pretty right to us.
Hey, listen, best of luck to you. We'll certainly keep you in our thoughts as we go down the road here. And I know you're not out of the woods yet, but this is a truly positive sign for you, Scott. I want to wish you the best of luck, OK?
S. PERRY: Thank you, Bill. HEMMER: All right. Ian, best of luck to you as well. Be a good donor. And, Doctor, take good care of him. Maybe we can check in again in two weeks when the procedure gets under way, and we'll check in on the progress then.
Thanks to all three of you, live this morning in Orlando.
I. PERRY: Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
