I am writing with a difficult request, but you could help save someone’s life, by pursuing what we need: a bone marrow transplant. Unfortunately, quite a few people at some point in their lives may need a bone marrow transplant to help fight their cancer, because bone marrow has stem cells which produce immune cells. My sister and I have a close friend, who has multiple myeloma. She has already used up her own saved supply of stem cells.
Statistics have shown that 80 percent of donor matches are found in their own ethnic group. Our friend’s ethnicity is Filipina. She is a beloved spouse, the mother of two adorable adopted children, a girl of 4 years old, and a boy of 2 years old, and has many loving friends. Please, if you, or anyone you know, is of Filipino/a descent or Pacific islander, or even Asian descent, would you encourage them to go to the website www.marrow.org to register and see if you even pass the strict medical requirements to go further through the process?
Also, let me clear up a few myths and natural questions that people ask right away when considering donating bone marrow (according to the www.marrow.org brochure). If your bone marrow matches someone’s requirements, it is up to the specific bone marrow center if you are allowed to meet the patient. If you don’t match our friend’s stem cells, you might still match someone else’s (and the bone marrow banks are in great need of donations from all ethnicities) and get the chance to save their life. Wouldn’t that be amazing?
Myth: The procedure is extremely painful. According to the brochure, you get anesthesia for the actual procedure, and then the following two to seven days (up to 14 days maximum) you have discomfort, but after this time period, you are back to your functioning self.
With our heartfelt thanks for however you can help,
Maya Chaudhuri
Oak Hill Road
