Genetic mutation leads California couple to UT MD Anderson
November 10, 2026
Story highlights
- Jerry Brouwer didn’t know he carried the DDX41 mutation until he tried to donate stem cells to his elder brother.
- This mutation makes carriers more likely to develop leukemia, which Jerry eventually did, too.
- Jerry sought treatment at UT MD Anderson because of our leukemia specialists’ expertise.
- He is cancer-free now and doing very well.
Until he tried to donate stem cells for his late brother, Norman, Jerry Brouwer didn’t realize he carried a genetic mutation that made him more likely to develop leukemia.
But testing revealed he had DDX41 — the same mutation that had caused Norman’s illness. That meant Jerry couldn’t provide the stem cells needed to save his brother’s life. And, since Jerry was 63 at the time, it also meant he was at high risk for developing the disease himself.
“It was terrifying for all of us,” recalls Tiffany Brouwer, Jerry’s second wife. “DDX41 doesn’t really impact people until their mid-60s. But then, it’s notorious for causing all kinds of problems. Our shock was even greater because Jerry’s first wife, Wendy, had died of leukemia 20 years earlier.”
Third leukemia diagnosis in one family prompts search for best care
Since Jerry felt fine and his blood tests were still normal, his local doctor recommended taking a “watch and wait” approach. Jerry would get retested every six months, then start treatment once his cell counts dropped beneath a certain threshold.
That day finally came in late 2025, when Jerry’s red blood cell, white blood cell and platelet counts were all either at or just below the lowest normal range.
“Jerry has three grown children with his late wife,” says Tiffany. “By that point, they’d had both a parent and an uncle die of leukemia, and another parent who’d been diagnosed with it. So, we wanted to seek the best care available.”
Finding the expertise they needed
The one name that came up repeatedly during the Brouwers’ search for DDX41 experts was Courtney DiNardo, M.D., a leukemia specialist here at UT MD Anderson. As it happens, Jerry’s oncologist in San Francisco knew DiNardo. At the Brouwers' request, the two doctors began discussing Jerry’s case and planning a second-opinion visit to UT MD Anderson.
“This was still before Jerry had shown a single symptom,” marvels Tiffany. “It was almost Christmas, and everything else was closed. Most people probably weren’t even in contact with their doctors. But Dr. DiNardo was already assembling a team for us.”
Helping one family reach its treatment goals
The Brouwers had their first clinic visit with DiNardo at UT MD Anderson on Jan. 29, 2026. Right away, she gave them encouraging news.
“My first wife had a much more aggressive form of leukemia,” explains Jerry. “But because mine was caused by this genetic mutation, Dr. DiNardo told us this type of leukemia was very curable.”
To treat it, DiNardo recommended three rounds of chemotherapy, followed by an allogeneic stem cell transplant from an unrelated donor. Jerry would need to stay in isolation at the hospital for about a month afterward, and within 30 minutes of UT MD Anderson for two months after that.
Jerry underwent the stem cell transplant at UT MD Anderson on June 17, 2026. It went well, and he is now more than 100 days out and steadily improving. He also shows no evidence of disease.
“Neither Jerry’s first wife nor his brother survived longer than about four months after their respective stem cell transplants,” says Tiffany. “So, our goal in seeking care at UT MD Anderson was first to get Jerry cured, then to show the next generation that early detection and the best care possible matter. UT MD Anderson helped us achieve both.”
Request an appointment at UT MD Anderson online or call 1-877-632-6789.
Early detection and the best care possible matter.
Tiffany Brouwer
Caregiver