I normally don't do this, but thought I'd mention that there's Asian Pacific American Heritage Festival, at Union Square Park in New York City on May 6th from 12-6 PM. At the festival, there's going to be bone marrow donor registration. A fellow schoolmate's friend named Sam has leukemia and needs a bone marrow transplant but the problem is that because he's mixed, part Asian, part Caucasian, it's pretty hard to find a donor. Minority and mixed heritage donors are urgently needed in the registry.
Even if you aren't a match, check out the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) Registry. Both the Cammy Lee Leukemia Foundation (www.cllf.org), and DKMS Americas will be running drives that day, and people can register at either drive to help Sam--all donors will be registered with the NMPD Registry. To learn more about the DKMS drive, and to access a link to a Donor Drive Poster, please visit: http://dkmsamericas.org/donordrives/sam/index.php
For anyone unable to attend the NYC drive, DKMS Americas will provide
registration kits by mail.
Registering as a potential bone marrow donor is completely painless, involving filling out a form and taking a cheek swab. Most potential donors are never asked to donate; the donation process itself involves only some inconvenience and moderate discomfort, and of course has the potential to save a life. The removed stem cells are rapidly regenerated by the donor's body so there are no medical consequences at all for the donor.
I didn't realize this but apparently in the U.S., only about a fifth of patients needing bone marrow transplants can find donors, and this problem is particularly acute for those of mixed racial backgrounds.
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