appeal to friends in the NPHC and all GLOs
 

After a very difficult couple days, I'm putting out an appeal on behalf of my dear friend whose husband's leukemia has just progressed into the "blast phase"; he's been admitted for 4 to 6 weeks of daily chemotherapy.

He will need a bone marrow transplant. As an African American male, he is at a disadvantage because the pool of donors is statistically much smaller for minorities. Tissue types need to match for a transplant to be successful, and since tissue types are inherited, a patient is more likely to match with someone from their own race or ethnicity.

I ask this for a selfish reason, obviously, I want my friend's husband to survive this, but the truth is, there are thousands more who will benefit as well -- please, if you are in a position to appeal to undergraduate or alum chapters about joining the bone marrow registry, please do. It's really as easy as a blood test. But the more people we get into the system, the more my friend and thousands like him have a chance to live.

Please ask fellow greeks, your co-workers, your friends, anyone who isn't already in the registry to consider joining. Thank you and here's a link to read more about the National Marrow Donor Program: http://www.marrow.org/ABOUT/Need_for_Donors/index.html

Sorry for the PSA, I just hate feeling so helpless about this and am just trying to feel like I'm doing SOMEthing.

I am actually in the bone marrow donor registry. When I went through the process, the family and friends of a local guy that shared several of my nationalities was running a drive. I just had to fill out paperwork and get my mouth swabbed in I think 5 places.

Thanks for the reminder. I've been registered for over 10 years, but I just updated my address at their website.

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. has included the National Marrow Donor Program as one of our national programs: http://www.sgrho1922.org/marrow.html. I actually registered during my undergrad years when the chapter at my school held a drive during their week (before I was a member). I was actually the first person registered. :)

I am in the donor registry as well, but a good suggestion to get the word out would be predominately African-American churches...maybe talk to the pastor/priest about organizing a drive;)

Not allowed to register, but good luck.

Can't register (transplant patient) but will ask others.

I've been a proud member of the Registry for almost 8 years now! Never donated, but I've been a preliminary match a few times.

Thank you for all the feedback! The churches are a great idea, I'll call my friend's mom back and see if anyone's pursuing that yet and if not, I'll jump on that.

Good luck with that, nittanyalum. I really hope the efforts work out.

I've never been contacted for a prelim match after nearly 10 years. What kind of rare stuff is in my system? Sheesh...

You are apparently one of a kind. :)

Kind of ironic. My cousin has matched and donated twice for bone marrow, and has matched and donated platelets once. And this is all within a little over a two year period.

Bless your cousin for being so generous!!!

:)

I've matched once but that was to my brother and that was expected. I have been on the list for a while though.
Keep us updated! I am praying for you and your friends!

I am medically ineligible to join =(. Good luck!!