Piketon, OH – A teenager died from complications of a bone marrow transplant after developing a rare genetic condition linked to radiation from a nearby nuclear plant, according to a lawsuit filed by her mother. Cheyenne Dunham was 19 when she passed away in November 2015 after suffering severe health issues.
Julia Dunham claims radiation exposure from the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant caused her daughter’s medical complications. The lawsuit alleges that Cheyenne was diagnosed with a 12-inch blood clot in her hip and clots in her lungs.
From birth until her early teens, Cheyenne consumed produce grown near the plant and played in a creek in close proximity to it. Julia Dunham filed the complaint against Centrus Energy in late November after becoming the administrator of Cheyenne’s estate in October.
Officials shut down the facility in 2001 due to environmental concerns, prompted by the proximity of a school and residences. In May 2019, Zahn’s Corner Middle School was closed after enriched uranium was discovered in the building.
Cheyenne attended the school for three years from fourth through sixth grade. The lawsuit alleges she was exposed to radionuclides exceeding federal regulatory limits while at Zahn’s Corner and in the Piketon community.
From birth until about age five, the family lived at a house bordering the plant. Cheyenne then went to school at Jasper Elementary, also located near the site.
At age 16, Cheyenne began experiencing health issues, which included a sudden change in leg color. Following her diagnosis of blood clots, she was transferred to an emergency room after initial evaluation at a family health facility.
She was prescribed blood thinners and referred to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, where she was diagnosed with GATA Deficiency, a condition affecting blood and the immune system. As a treatment measure, she underwent two bone marrow transplants to prevent Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
After her second transplant in February 2015, Cheyenne’s health declined. By May, her body was rejecting the transplant and her liver faced severe issues.
Cheyenne passed away at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital on November 15, 2015. The cause of death was attributed to Graft-versus-Host Disease, a complication linked to her prior treatments.
Julia Dunham states her daughter’s death directly resulted from exposure to radionuclides released from the plant. The complaint asserts that Cheyenne’s medical team never informed her or her mother about a potential link between her health issues and radiation exposure.
The lawsuit also cites studies indicating elevated radiation levels in the area surrounding the uranium plant, which corresponds with high cancer rates in Pike and adjacent counties. Preliminary data from the Ohio Department of Health reportedly shows a notable increase in childhood blood cancer in proximity to the plant.
Julia Dunham is seeking monetary damages for funeral and burial costs along with medical expenses. Centrus Energy has not responded to requests for comment.
