Fred Hutch says farewell to beloved doctor

At the age of 16, Jean Sanders decided to dedicate her life to saving children. Her young cousin had just died from acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

“That had a profound effect on me because she was only 6 years old,” Sanders said. “I decided that someday I would do something about it, so I did.”

She plotted her career methodically. In college, Sanders majored in science and biology. She went on to medical school, and then studied pediatrics and pediatric oncology.

In 1975, Sanders landed at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, where she would spend the next 37 years. Colleagues say her “grit and stubbornness” led to breakthrough after breakthrough in care for children who receive bone marrow transplants to treat diseases such as leukemia.

Sanders became a professor in the Department of Pediatrics at UW Medicine, served as the director of Pediatric Clinical Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, and spent years as director of the Bone Marrow Transplantation Service at Seattle Children’s Hospital.

Now, at the age of 67, she will retire.

“It just seemed like it was the right thing to do. I’ve had my own health issues,” said Sanders, who lost both of her legs to vascular disease in 2008, yet returned to work.

Her boss, Dr. Fred Appelbaum, said it was a testament to her strength and commitment to children.

“She gives so much of herself,” said Appelbaum, director of Clinical Research at Fred Hutchinson and head of Oncology. “To watch her in clinic now in a wheelchair with the kids in her lap, it’s really been uplifting to see.”

Appelbaum reflected on the major accomplishments of Sanders’ career, and talked about the legacy she will leave behind.

Sanders was the first in the world to focus on the long-term outcomes of transplantation on kids, and developed ways to overcome those impacts.

Because of her, virtually every major transplant center in the country has pediatric specialists, and facilities such as St. Jude are filled with young researchers whom she helped to train.

She built a reputation as a tireless advocate for children.

“Every time we would have a discussion on any protocol in the early days of transplants, Jean would, like clockwork, stand up and say, ‘What about kids?’ Appelbaum said. “Jean would always remind us that kids were different and needed their own special treatment.”

It was Dr. Sanders’ goal to see young children with cancer become healthy, productive adults. She has watched as hundreds have grown up.

“I’m really happy that I met her and that she’s taken care of me,” said William Harper, 22, of Whidbey Island.

Harper fell ill while on a trip to Senegal in 2010, and was flown to Germany where he would be diagnosed with leukemia. He came home to the United States and was immediately taken to Seattle Children’s Hospital for treatment.

He first met Dr. Sanders while he was in transplantation and said the two formed a “special bond.” He visited her last Thursday, during one of her final days with patients.

“She just wanted to tie up a few loose ends with me, and give me a hug,” he said.

Thanks in part to Dr. Sanders, Harper is on his way to living a normal, adult life. He is now in remission and plans use his pilot’s license, which he got before he battled leukemia.

Thank you, he said, just isn’t enough.